FREEDOM OF UN FORMATION
AND
PRIVACY ACTS
SUBJECT: COMMUNIST INFILTRATION-MOTION
PICTURE INDUSTRYfCOMPIO (EXCERPTS)
FILE NUMBER: 100-138754
SERIAL:^
PART: 1 OF 15
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
m m
i . V JfcTCOB j*PIC7URK IKDUT W 17,23,54,301
V
X9,21,23,30/42i
Vl.2,5,7,11,12/43
26
6327 . : y .
jraopsts or Pacts:
si
InToatigation Jsdleataa that tbora ara 39 labo r
•Dion* in tha aotlon picWro industry; aors than
rx half or* A.F. of Uh otbara ara indapandant
r N« ^ anion*. Tbora aro as C.I.O. 'onion* In th« wotioo .
v. pietora industry. About half af tno anions appoor
• ^ * *• be controlled by the CaaatunisU or fellow th«
. S ^Caawaaat Party Una for boalneca raaaona, realin-
jrtSt-2* w ~ u ^r^ w ~ wn « «n*tt reeort to opposition Uo-
L ■■-* ra ^^ U* 1 *- ••-eUlad •enlturol poupa* in tb* no-
A .tiSgSt^ 'j _ >lon pletara industry, eetora. aatraasoa, and
V .it*s * »PPW t« ba andar tha eontrol and diree-
< y * * V ^f 1 Co ~ uni * t P'rty and follow th« Coosun-"
>- ,-rs- Part f la *11 dataila and roriao their po-
/ X * V *~ 'J 4100 I"™ 1 , * f f ^ Co-auniat PaS
•£» > ,- P- - - ahansaa ita policy. Quite a aaaber af directors-
. K - - - > and executives are well known Goaauniata, ethers
-a **** *>ll°w tha Coawnlat Part* Una and char'- -*tbo^*
' ^ »!ll U S 0n t 5' r * ia * *» ta^Ooiaunilt
- |. Party The OaanunUta In Hollywood bars sat
J ■ 2 ""V Coaaunist controlled front orsaniaetions-*
o^' . I A ""Jf" '^ow every chance dictated by tha foreien
t r l | a . baado^iartara at Mooeow, ftiaaU.
- P-
/ I'San Prandaett
Can, L»a in<alaa/ (Inf.)
CafI, Svt Diogo / 4 L»a Angalaa
0-2, Son Pronefaeo^f ' « —
Ix>a ancalaa 't*^ f
* f
REFERENCE*
EST AILS:
letters from tht Bureau, August 14, 1942 and
HoTeob** 9, 194^*
58441
AT IPS AMQ5DBS„ CALIFOKKIA l
The Bureau instructed that a cceiprehenaiTe report be pria- '
v T>ardd indicating the Commnist infiltration and possible control of the notion
picture industry* It was suggested that the report cover the actiTitiea of
the CocHauniata in the field of labor organisations, atoning the extent to which
the Comuniat Party has gained control and direction of the actiTitiea of that
section of the skilled, unakilled and technical workers in the Hollywood itu-
: dios. It haa been found in this field .that there are thirty-nine separate
* r labor organizations which operate as bargaining agendo* for their iadi*i<hial
; 4 groups, with approximately 20,000 members*
■
i, the first portion of this report deala with labor organ!-
\ aations and groups, while the second main portion of this report deals with
\ the activities of the Cooounists among the writers, actors, ac treseee, exact*-
; tires, directors, and the so-called intellectuals in general*
\ While both of these groups have been eubject to Cconnnist
penetration, and while the methods of penetration have not been the sate, it
being necessary to approach the working man from a different angle than the
intellectual, nerertheleas both groups form a part of a broad campaign to in-
fluence the motion pictura industry as a whole, and the binding and directing
force is clearly traceable to the activity of the Cconnnist Party*
t It has been found that the Communist activities in the
motion picture industry are not in any sense local bat on the oontrary tfcsgr
form a part of a gigantic world-wide conspiracy of control which ham it*
■ origin and direction in the Comntanist, Party of the Soviet Union*
It hM bMD obaarrad that the activities, whether they
be in the Coomunifit controlled labor union*, th« Coanonlst controlled nib- ""
toral groups, or the Coanunist front organization* under Coaaumiat control*
* follow erery change dictated by the foreign poller of the Cowannist Party of
tb* Soviet Union.
:<
In each instance when the Coaauinist International, which ^
haa it* headquartera In Moscow, Resale, sat* ap a policy te be followed
A bF' \\t~
\ the Qoaauiniat Par&as throughout the world, these Coamuniat group* 1*. Ha2^T*
wood haw* followed "the Cosjauniat Party Iin*»«(|i ^Jj *'
• > ^} J*- * «*
For example, from August, 1935, when OMSK UW£pfflAf ia
the Serenth World Congress of the Ccmmiet International, held in Moscow,
fiussia, laid down the formula for what was called "The Popular Front", up to
the time of tbi signing of the pact between HITLER and STALIN on August 23,
1939, erery Ccmnuniat controlled organisation in Hollywood labor unions,
cultural groups and front organizations followed that policy* On August 23,
1939 the non-awyessire pact between HTTIHi and STAIJH was announced to the_
world, within a period of sixty days tnese s«b« mnoywooa organization* com-
pletely reversed their position and began advocating isolation, opposition
to the lend-lease policy, and called the war an imperialist war {
Again on June 22, 1941 when HITLER attacked Russia and
the Communist Party line was changed, these same groups changed likewise and
are now for all-out prosecution of the war and pretend to be bending every
effort to defeat HITZ£B in accordance with the announced Communist Party line*
HATIPHAI OgaOTTEB, COMMUNIST PARTY* U.3*A »» NEW YORK CITT* HBTA33B ITS SPBCIAL
JURISDICTION OVER HOLLYWOOD CULTURAL GBDOPS FOR PURPOSB
Of PREVENTING EXPOSU RE
•my-
/Source A has state£jt25at as far back as 1934 the Coflounist
Party began to lay plans to utilise Hollywood and the notion picture industry
for the Comunist cause, bat it was not until the fall of 1936 that a full
realisation of this possibility was reached* On November 13 and 14, 1936,
there was held in San Francisco a conference of writers from all over ths
United States* It was called the Western Writers Congress* The call for
this congress was issued by HABHT CARLISLE, an important functionary of the
Cooaaunist Party in California at the tims* He had been centering his activi-
ties in the Hollywood section* CA RLISIg was a aaaber of the National Coancil
of the Leagu*of American Writers wmcn was organised" In the spring e?3$25
in New Tort Clly; " ^s 'nati6nair<^uhm^ was" af fmatei ^with ths tniVrnaj^ooal
Union of Berolutionary Writers who as headquarter* war* in Moscow, frasiiu
CARLISLE had also been national organiser ol the JOHN HEED CLUB, a Cn— mist
group which preceded the formation of the League of American Writers*
Representing the Central Conmittse of the Oo— agist Party
at this congress were VICTOR J* JERQUE and MICHAEL GOLD* JERQUE was a aamber
of the Central Coamittee of the Communist Party, and ODXD is the well known
Ctanunist writer on the staff of the "Daily Worker", the official paper of •
the Comunist Party in America, located in New York City* - | | v
filters and personages from, or connected with, Bollywood,
attended this conference as delegates* and weret ^ ^
DOHDTHT PARKER, a Hollywood screen writer, ^^F-'HlJ4] fhL *
VIOLA BROTHERS SHORE, Hollywood screen writer*
DONALD OCDEN STEWART, Hollywood screen writer,
ELLA MAE WINTER, Hollywood screen writer, magazine writer,
widow of LINCOIH STEFFENS, and at present
wife of DONALD OGD2K STSJTART,
C25RALB STRANG, Hollywood screen writer.
CLARA V/EATHSRWAI, Hollywood screen writsr.
UPTON SINCLAIR, author and screen writer,
JOHN STEINBECK, writer.
CARET UcVTLLIAUS, writer and lawyer who was Commissioner of
Housing and Immigration of the State of Cal-
ifornia duri ng the Governor 0ISON administration
MICHAEL QUIN (PAULJXAW-), columnist of the "People's World, the
official Communist publication on the west
coast*
It was at this congress that the possibilities of the mo-
tion picture industry as a field for Communism were brought to the attention
of the Central Coonittee of the Communist Party with striking force*
4 Source B furnishedjto the Los Angeles Bureau Office a
letter received from the WESTERN WRITERS CONGRESS, Boom 214, 604 Montgomery
Street, San Francisco, California, dated January 27, 1937 > signed by RAHHX
CARLISLE, Executive Secretary, on which appeared a list of the sponsors of
this congress* This list is as follows:
ZJMCOIH STEFFENS
LOUIS ADAMIC
JOHN R. ADA1G
GBORGE P. ADAMS
HBNHI G« ALSBERG
HOWARD BAKER
BETTT BALLANTINE
JOHN BARRX
ERNEST SUTHERLAND BATES
CHARLES BONNER
B. A* BQTELN
JOHN H. BRADLET, JR,
CALVIN BRIDGES
JOHR/BRIGHT
M'.KI
ARTHUR I
GUIHERT
H, C • BROWN
R* L. BUR
R
witter btnnsr
jakes caldwell
harhi *6 arlisls
O LIVER CARLSON
ARTHUR CAYLQR
HA AKON CH E VAUKB
HUUPHR2T COBB
, HOWARD McGNLET CORNING
CLARKSON CRANK
H. L. DAVIS
HAROLD EBI
GARLAND ETHEL
GULSEPFE FACCI
HAHVET FEBGOSSOB
SARA BARD FIELD
RUDEGARDE FLANKER
MARTIN FLAVIN
ifTBjMf lTJjat d» FORD
\ J£m r i rtfMTl
-4-
o
AIPKED FRANKENS'E
ELSA GTDLOW
UICHiEL GOID
DAVID GHOWKOWSKI
JOSEPH HARRISON
ADA HASTINGS fl
HOWARD HUX
CHARLES HILTON
JAMES HOPPER
helen :«rr
FLORENCE BEAN JAMES
ALEXANDER KAUN
H&KttJSKT KusiN
ROBIN LAMPSON
PROF. B. H. LEHMAN
JANET LEWIS
MABEL DODGE LUHAN
DR. LILLIAN J. MARTIN
HEDFERN MASON
EDNIN JUSTUS MATES.
CARET McWHlIAMS
ALEXANDER MKCKLEJOHN
SEUJEN MENEFEB
H. G* MERRIAM
LORES MIIIEH
MAI MILLER
FDLMER MOOD
RICHARD NEDBERGSR
ALBERT It* OTTENHBIMER
LANCASTER POLLARD
LANBENCE CLARE POtlELL
MICHAEL QUIN
PETER QUINCE
EDWARD RADENZEL
KENNETH REZROTH
HAROLD SALEMSQN
WILLIAM SABOTAN
GEORG E SHAFTELL
IRWIN SHAW ■
VIOLA BROTHERS SHORE
UPTON SINCLAIR
TESS SLESINGER
PAUL JORDAN SMITH
JOHN STEINBECK
i < ii f ^ it/i r» Mr\tn>
xavxxivi oiutftA
ROBERT TASKS
LWTD TtiOUPSQH
ABTHQNT M. TURANO
ETHEL TURNER
FRANKLIN WALKER
CLARA WEATHHWAX
MARIS 60 L. WELCH
GBORQS WEST
NATHANIEL TEST
T. K. WHIPPLE
ROBERT WKTAKER
TBBTJfl T« WHITE
STEWART EDffARD WHITS
ALBERT RHtS WTLIXUB
QBORG B WILSO N
ELLA WINTER
SOPHUS KEITH WINTER
CHARLES ZRSKINE SCOTT WOOD
tOSKTHUlD YI5KT5L
JAKE ZETLIN
AM a remit of -the WESTERN WRITERS OONOESS, Source 0 f (jjj
has stated that early in 1937, VICTOR J* JSRDUE was sent to Hollywood tt 1 s
direct th. acUriti- of t* Co-ouniat Pirty i* tte aotton picture i^txy^/
Aft«r hie arrival hare a dtcision vat wade that owing te
the importance of Hollywood and the prominence of those personages, acters,
actresses* writers * directors and others who were drifting over into the Com-
munist Party and the Tarioua front organisational it would be necessary to
separate the Hollywood activities of the Party fro* all connection with Die* /}.
trict No* 13 of the Canaunist Party and place it directly under the jeri»dic-\ }
tion and supervision of the Central Comlttoe of the Couuniat Party in Wew
York City* This arrangement applied only to those units of the Party which
y
were composed of prominent actor a, actresaei, writers » directors! and execur-
tives* . It did not apply to rank and file Communists who were ambers of labor
unions fyj)
This decision was carried out and from that time on the
Hollywood cultural faction was completely independent and had no official con-
nection with the local management of the Coomunist Party.^ (ul)
To further protect the Hollywood luminaries wno were then
flocking into the Communist orbit in such numbers, directives were issued that
all party membership books were to be destroyed and all documentary evidence
of every kind was also to be destroyed,^ \\J^\
In addition to the foregoing precautions 9 all units to
which personages belonged were made "closed units"* A "closed unit" is one
which retains the same membership continuously $ taking in no new members,
thus preventing a leak.(X*
Members of these units, when paying their dues to the /
party, merely bought the required dues stamps and then destroyed them^A^ v-*- J
Source D furnished to Agent a copy of a "strictly confi-
dential" report dated January 22, 1934 which was prepared by a party who had
been a member of the Communist Party and who may have been a member of the
Communist Party at the time the report was made* This report was made for
the "Association of Motion Picture Producers, Inc." and contains much valu-
able preliminary information as this was approximately two years before the
Central Committee of the Communist Party, U.S.A. at New York City began to
realize the possibilities of the motion picture industry to the Coomunist
Party. This report is copied herein:fcJ(LM\
L "Subject! Activities of Individual CosBumiste^^^t
and Organisations in Hollywood* J.^
"The following Information on individual Coanuniste
and Communist organizations, subsidiary and otherwise, operating in
Hollywood, is furnished for your information^*^ (j^
"The Los Angeles sub~district of District 13 of the
Angeles and immediate vicinity, with a total membership of approxi-
mately 1750 persons* This, however, does not include membership of
several thousand in their numerous subsidiary and auxiliary organise-
t
-4-
)
•
"la Hollywood proper, there have been established six
separate unite of tbt Cooounist Party during the past fire months, at
the beginning of nhich there existed only one unit whose activities
nere sooswhat Halted, and the spreading of ite influence to the ex-
tant of the formation of six units is a significant barometrical read-
ing of the growth of the party in HollywoodAy Lo)^
"While there are six units that are acknowledged, there
is a serenth which night be tamed a shadow unit, which is being kept
secret until some time after February* This seventh unit is composed
mainly of former Socialist Party members who have broken away froa the
Socialist Party and have became affiliated with the Conmunist Party
and the existence of this unit *ni not be made known until alter the
state convention of the Socialist Party. Among the notable members of
this latter unit, are Mr* and Mrs* NASH, having been identified as
state secretary of the Socialist Party .^C^ \Xj
"The fomer Socialist Party headquarters located at 1453
Vine St* , Hollywood, has been taken over by the Comunist Party end its
subsidiaries* Among some of the organizations holding meetings there
are the JOHN REED CLUB, the Pen 4 Hammer Club, and a recent newly or-
ganised social group of the motion picture markers* This headquarters
is known as the Commonwealth House* £^IAj )
"One of the Communist Party units held its meeting at
the Commonwealth House on Thursday, January 11th, at which comprehen-
sive reports on the activities of this unit and its members during the
past and on Its future work was rendered* The major concentration de-
cided upon the building of the Motion Picture Workers Union<*4^tM
•A Mr* WOIP, an organizer of one of the Hollywood Unite
of the Communlet Party, known both as HERMAN WOLF end HARVE7 30LF, is
the organiser of the mw revolutionary union, which is know as the
"Motion Picture Workers Industrial Union*" It appears that WOLF was
formerly employed ae a laboratory worker in a studio and has a wide
acquaintance saong the workers in the action picture industry, sod he
is now applying himself assiduously to the building of this new union
ft
"The Canonist Party fraction of the new union ie
posed of BCU, NEIL BRANT, the QOIDBLATT brothers (Toung Coomuniet
League members) EDDY CLARK, BILL CSHER, HEUOR BERGMAN, 100 HKTFSTS,
Mr* and Mrs. GORDON, Gardenia, end a few o there* Not all the fxmetloa
aeabere are utters of the Comuniet Party, and though this is ■— ■
what of an unusual situation, it ie permitted In this instance because
of the superlatively revolutionary psychology and ideae of the persons
involved. They follow the party line and decisions luxerrlngly^^ ^)J)
"From confidential reports, 7J0LF is being careful in
his selection of m ambers for the union and appears to be concentrating
on the carpenters , painters and other laborers, and is shying away at
this time from the writers. This is mainly because the inarticulate
worker is more tractable than the intellectual and can be counted upon
to follow the leaders 9 instructions or appeals in the case of an emer-
gency,^
"The policy in building the new motion picture union is
to carefully build up a solid membership of the studios employees, then
when the membership is sufficiently strong enough* WOLF and the other
party members will propose affiliation with the Trade Union Unity
League and it is believed that the rank and file of the membership will
have by this time been sufficiently impregnated with Communist Party
psychology* After this move has been accomplished, the writers and
other more twnersment&l of the workers will be solicited for messber-
ship^y^
"As a means to an end, an association of motion picture
employees has been organised. This organization bears the front of a
social organisation, but is in reality utilized as a recruiting field
for the new motion picture employees union (j^jLj
"This social group meets with and listens to B3RG-
UAN and other smooth tongued Communists, and absorbs Communist genu
without realising it* YK)LF refers to the social group as the "educa-
tional n group and is frSnk among the comrades in the party in Hollywood
to admit that it was .organized for the purpose of lining up prospects
for the union#C^(0yJ
••Other brevities on Communist Party activities in Holly-
"Uifler ore vi ties on co
wood include the following&l&l AM
"The Hollywood sectipn of the Communist Party commemorated
*w ^aoo4i^ wi fliwiAi Lj^axn ai» i»noir own section, Sunday night, January
21st at the Commonwealth House, 1453 Vine St* (rear) at 8 p.m.j Dr.
TASHJIAN was the chairman of the meeting, and NEIL BRANT was the main
speaker^) ^
"Members of the Hollywood section of the Conmunist Party
have received instructions from the sub-district headquarters in Los * ,
Angeles that the election campaign will be one of the major campaigns \
of the party this year* Every party member stands instructed to regis- )
ter "Communist* - The old evasion of "decline to state", is definitely
abolished and all party members must register "Communist p^J
"The Hollywood section of the Communist Party ia
planning to establish the Daily Worker in HoUyw>od (The Daily Work-
er is the official organ of the Cormmnist Party in the United States).
It appears that after considerable dickering, they have made arrange-
ments with the owner of a newsstand located at 6363 Hollywood Blvd.
to stock and carry this publication and copies may be procured at this
address at the present ti»e^\j / u.)
"One of the outstanding activities of the Hollywood
section of the party is the maintenance of a propaganda group as the
"Hollywood Discussion Club, n which trading on the leniency of the
School Board in its policy of permitting Communist subsidiaries and
Communist camouflaged organizations to use the school buildings for
their propaganda work, organized a committee to arrange and conduct
meetings of the Hollywood Discussion Club. The committee first se-
cured the 7ine St. School for these meetings* Meetings were held in
this building for a matter of several months, then it became apparent
that the location was not the best so far as drawing power was con-*
corned, and accordingly, the committee sought a more advantageous lo-
cation, with the result that the school building located at the corner
of Santa Monica Blvd* and Van Ness Ave. is now being utilised for die-
domination of all sorts of Communist propaganda • Party members be-
lieve that larger crowds will be attracted in this location and that
the party's influence will grow among those attending these meetings
in the near future
*A Coociunist Party member named WILLIAM GfHER, who is
also an actor and now employed in the studios, has conducted negotia-
tions with the School Board for the use of the school buildings. In
his applications for permits to the Board and when appearing before
them, he is known as WILLIAM GREEM, and it appears from his talk or
cover with members, that he wears the ultimate in the matter of facial
innocence and expression, and is never suspected of being a Communist.
In the past, at regular intervals j- it has been necessary for him to
appear before the School Board fdr~a rensMl of the permit to use the
building, and at these times this mild appekring Communist used the
fictitious name of Mr. WUXLU/ GREEN, impressing the Board members
with his integrity^ (w }
•Several interesting new members nave been added to
the Communist Party units in Hollywood, among them being, CON GORDON,
the writer, HEN fRIVAL, the artist, who has a Mall studio located at
6766 Bollywood Blvd., PHT7AL has been active in the John Reed Club;
his wife, 2QHA PKT7AL is also a party member* Another recent party
mmber is PAUL HI AN, who conducts the Hollywood Book Store on Holly-
wood Bird* RYAN is a student and a clever writer and is, incidentally
also very active in the John Reed Club* His nam de pltnae is MICHAEL
QUIN and" he is on the staff of the "Partisan", the John Reed Club pub-
lication, and is now attached to Unit #4 as Agitprop director, but will
only remain until such time as this unit develops sufficiently to pro- —
vide an agitprop director to take-his place. By territorial division
he belongs to another of the Hollywood Units ^l^lAwj
"The "Partisan 11 is the official publication of the John
Reed Clubs of Hollywood, Camel and San Francisco with mailing address
Box 2088, Hollywood, and is termed the "revolutionary journal of art,
literature and opinion." It is published in Hollywood, Cai» and made
its first appearance in Volume 1, #1, December, 1933 ^(u)
"The writers and artists union of the John Reed Club
meets separately every Wednesday night at the Comnonwealth House, 1453
Tine St*, rear.^l ' \s\
"One of the other units of the Hollywood section of the
Comaunist Party is concentrating on agitation among the laundry workers
in the Hollywood territory* Leaflets have been distributed among work-
ers in the Hollywood Laundry at Sunset and Tujunga, and others at the
Community Laundry and the Pride Hand Laundry* NEIL BRANT is the direct-
or of the laundry activities of the Hollywood section and will present
a plan of action for the units in the near future. (\) f (^J
"Other Communist subsidiaries existing in Hollyirood
proper include: Two branches of the International Labor Defense, name-
ly the Ben Boloff Branch and the Karl Leibknecht branch, German speak-
ing. Two units of the Young Communist League, and two Young Pioneer
troops, and International Workers Order, adult branch and International
Workers Order, youth branch; a branch of the ICOR and a unit of the 1tf6rk«
ers Ex-Servicemen 1 s League ♦ Also the Communist Party has fraction mem-
bers in five groups of the Bellamy Clubs; one of said groups sends dele-
gates to the "Anti War Conference" and to the "United Front Conference
Against Fascism.^' 00)
"There also exists in connection with the John Reed Clubs
the block of painters engaged in frescos and aural paintings; a branch
of the TT.I *R« (Tforksrs International Relief) is in process of fo&sation*
Already there is functioning a Workers Film and Photo League, under the
leadership of the W.I.R.; it is composed chiefly of petty bourgeoisie
elements, but it holds alluring possibilities for exploitation by the
Communists; CLARK, a cameraman and member of Unit fik Communist Party is
assisting In the extension of this organization. There ia also a branch
of the National Students League in Hollywood, which was organised by the
Young Communist League ♦ > £^( ^
"The n Hed front 11 , an organisation of Communist members
for use as defense squads and strong am tactics when coming in conflict
with the police, has been organized during the past several months » It
is described by the Communists as the vanguard of the Communist Party
and members from each of the 105 units are assigned to this organization.
The "Tied front" is already well organized in New York, Chicago and other
metropolitan centers, and will always be found at the front in fights,
demonstrations and other places where serious struggle is anticipated on
the part of Coomunist Party leadership.^ (j^ J
"The Relief Workers Protective Union is a Communist or-
ganization of workers on county relief roll; has two locals located
one of the Hollywood Unemployed Cooperative Relief Association units ^Jfct)
"Will endeavor to keep you advised from time to time of
any outstanding progress being made by the Communists in their endeavor
to penetrate into the motion picture industry, or any other activities
that may interest you«^^
Source D also on February 20, 1933 furnished to the Asso-
ciation of Motion Picture Producers, Inc., a report in which Source stated
that the Communists "John Reed Club of Hollywood was a branch of the intern-
national Union of Revolutionary Writers and Artiste," members of which are
to be found amond the writers, actors, actresses, artists jud scenic painters
and others employed in the various motion picture studios^J^tc^
Source further stated that a communication from th a "Work-
ers International Relief* addressed to JOSEPH TURCEDJSKT was available which
made mention of the fact that SAM OENITZj a writer, was employed by one of
^jfit studios and that a copy of a letter' of ORNITZ 1 addressed to the Intern*-
uLuiiajL ixiuur vuawcw xn ujo angexev ma vjjbq &miADie^
Source then stated "The Workers International Relief is
a Communist subsidiary and auxiliary mass organisation having a dual mission,
that of rendering assistance and relief in strikes, and has charge of prole-
tarian cultural activities, presenting propaganda films and entertainment,
and the establishing of Communist children's summer camps. * It further
stated that the national chairman of the Workers International Relief, BISHOP
W ILLIA M ICKTQCMERr BROWN, is an avowed Communist and its national secretary,
ALFRED WAGESKKBCHT, is a member of the Central Executive Committee of the
Coomunist Party, u » s ^.^^\^
_ • *
- U -
J
r
Source stated that JOSEPH TUHCmNSKT, to whom the
was addressed, is an active and militant member of the Communist r*rty, in
chares of Workers International Relief in this section. Source rarwwr
stated that -The International Labor Defense with which SAM ORNITZ is con-
nected, is another of the Communist subsidiary and auxiliary mass organi-
zations, functioning for the defense of persons (particularly Communists >
arrested for seditious activitiea against the Government, and the defense
of Communists and sympathizers arrested for unlawful activities during
strikes, demonstrations, riots-, and other disturbances^ ^ v
Source E in 1935 made a report to the employer of Source
5 relative to the above-named organization.. This report i» copied in full
v "SB* Aaron Brodsky
"There is, in Los Angeles, a group which calls itself the
"Contemporary rum uxsxnDa»m"# xnua« uv^^xsjaais — - *~w*~"
BB3DSKY, KATE BBODSET (his wife) CHANDLER WESTON and his wife. AARON
BBDDSKI is the general head of the group*
"AARON EBODSKI is the western representative of the
Garrison FiLa Coapany, a coapeny producing liberal and revolutionary
motion pictures in the east- It is controlled and financed by Conmun-
ists, although this fact is shrouded in secrecy* The production of
these films is a part of the propaganda program of the (fcawwnist Party *
"Naturally, BHODSKT handles principally Garrison films
hut he is not restricted in this matter* A brief review of the cir*
^ cuostancea leading up to BHODSKPS present enterprise, is necessary to
* ' ^>*ia understanding of the situation as it exists today*
"In 1935, AARON BBQDSKT Joined the Communist Party. He
was also a member of the Fila and Foto League, a left-wing group of
Bohemian type persona who had aspirations to become actors and actresses.
"Later, the Film and Foto League was reorganized and the
"New Film Group" supplanted it. After a brief existence, this organi-
sation was in turn diasolvsd in February, 193$. One half of the member-
ship, interested in the production end of the business, is still loosely
holding together, talking about making revolutionary or liberal picturee, Q
- 12 -
but actually doing nothing* The other part of the membership, leee
interested in the "arty* phase of the business than in the more lucra-
tive "showing" of the pictures, set itself up in business* In spite
of the fact that the name they adopted (Contemporary Film Distributors)
gives the impression of big business, there are only four persons in
the entire organization, and they are Communists*
"BRODSKI himself, makes a salary of from §150 to $200
per month, at present, on the showings of motion pictures • This salary
is based on "labor charges 11 he makes for showing pictures to various or-
ganizations, groups, affairs, etc. When sound pictures are shown, a
larger charge is made than for a silent picture. In addition to this,
BHODSKT receives a 1056 commission from the Garrison Film Company, when
he shows a Garrison film* However, his steady income is derived from a
job which he holds, but which is not known to this writer*
"Every effort is made to delude the public as to the
true character of the revolutionary films, not only by BRODSKI but by
the Communist Party as well - IF - it is thought that only by such
deceit can they guarantee that the pictures will be shown* For in-
stance, it is known to a few leading Communists, that a woman known
as Miss WILSON, bargained with the Public Library for the showing of
certain pictures. !Iiss WILSON assured the library employee that these
pictures had no connection whatever with the Communist Party or with
Communism* She produced a card (one of which is attached hereto) show-
ing that these pictures were to be shorn in the Hollywood nfemw* s Club*
Her listener was convinced that if the pictures were to be shown in so
reputable a place, they must be above criticism i Bat - these cards
were on display in the offices of the Communist Party, and the "Sfcdern
Film Group" which purported to be presenting the pictures was actually
a mail group of Communists attached to the Professional Section of the
Communist Party*
"Another card aecdbpanies this article, which lists four
of this same grow of pictures and showing, that this group of pictures
was to be shown in the Industrial Section's Headquarters* The Indus*
trial Section is a section of the Communist Party* In comparing the
two cards attached, it will be found that pictures, 2, 3, U and 5 are
the same in both instances* It is ridiculous to assume that the so*
called "Modern Film Group 19 would have no connection with Communist or
the Communist Party, with evidence like this on hand*
"It is timely to suggest that organisations, clubs, etc.,
which are approached by personable men or women who make attractive
offers for the showing of nation pictures, should make a thorough inves-
tigation of the persona approaching them, and of the film or films of-
fered, before making any arrangements* These Communist agents have
developed a finished technique and can make a thorn appear aa attractive
"This policy has been adopted by the Contemporary Film
Distributors, as well, Mrs. AARON BHODSKX is the "front" for the or-
ganization, making contacts with various organizations and groups and
attending to business arrangements* BBDDSKY attends to the tech*
nical end of showing the films* Mrs* BRDDSKT is the bookkeeper for the
group, aa well*"
The first "card" referred to in the report above is iden-
tified as follows)
"The Beet of Foreign Films at the Industrial
Section, 5i*6£ S* Spring St*"
The second "card" is identified aa follows:
"Modern Film Group presents
Five internationally important Sound Films 1 * * * *
Hollywood Women's Club, 7078 Hollywood Blvd."
4
The five films mentioned on card No* 1 are the following:
"Thunder Over Mexico"
Mexican Film by EISZNSTEIN and
UPTON SINCLAIR
"Crime and jrtmishment",
r renon rum wivu ruuuu dauwo
"Alone" - Russian Film
"A Nous La Lib arte"
French Film by Rene Clair
"The Wave"
Beautiful Film of Mexico today
i
The five pictures mentioned on Card No* 2 are the follow-
ing:
1, "Youth of HaxLu* - Russian
Directed by KOSINTSSV & TRAUBERG
2, "Crime et Punishment 11 ~ French
. _ . Directed by PIERRE CH3HAL, with music by
HONNEGSR
3, "Alone" - Russian
Directed by KOSINTSEV & TRAUBERG, music
by SHOSTOKOVITCH
4* "A Nous la liberte" - French
Directed by RENE CLAIR
5» "The Ware* (Redes) - Mexican
With photography by PAUL STRAND
It will be noted that four of the five pictures are listed
on both cards. It is reported that all of these films are of a propaganda
nature.
c
WRKSRS' FUli AND FOTO LEAGUE
Source- F furnished} to Agent a copy of a confidential re-
port concerning the activities of the nforkers Film and Foto League which held
a mass meeting on February 6, 1V35 at the Commonwealth House, 1453 Vine Street,
Hollywood, California* Several of the Comnunist Party members who were most
active at that time are still active in the affairs of the Communist Party in
Los Angeles at the present time, SAM ORNITZ, the featured speaker on that oc-
casion, is one of the staunchest Communists in California today* This report
is as followst _~
"Preliminary activities are in progress in Hollywood f
for the organization of a bona fide Workers' Film and Photo League*
These activities include the holding of meetings to which the public
and persons interested in the production of motion pictures, are in-
vited. Interesting talks, as well as the showing of motion pictures,
are provided for entertainment* The talks are designed to inform the
people of the aspirations and plans of the new organisation.
"In the past, there has been in existence a stall gro^pj^
which called itself the Workers' Film and Photo League, but this
group was handicapped for lack of funds, for want of support from tech-
nicians and was in reality a one-man organization* 3 J, SHHNOFF owns
-05 -
th« camera and some of the paraphernalia, and he has done most of the
photographing and other work alone* Now, however* it i» planned by cer-
tain of ~tha. Coaaunist Party member s, to make a real organisation out of
the rwnants of the old, with a Party fraction guiding the organization*
Among those Party members who are active In forming the new group* are
BETTY SMITH, recently arrived from New York, Mr* SALTER, also from New
York, EDDIE 0 'TOOLE, BILL IHLLgfl, BILL GHISR and the WALLACES*
"On Tuesday, February 6th, SAM OBNITZ was the featured
speaker at one of 'these meetings. The meeting was held in Commonwealth
House, 1453 Vine Street* Approximately 65 people were present. An ad-
Mission charge of 15t was made*
"OHNITZ said that the purpose of the League was to even-
tually produce motion pictures, depicting events in the class struggle,
etc. In order to produce pictures which may be put on a paying basis,
it is necessary to draw into the League film technicians, camera men,
grips, cutters, electricians, etc. OBNITZ waned his listeners that
they must not come into the Workers 1 Film and Photo League with the ex-
pectation of winning personal glory or fane. They must not come in for
"art 1 6* sake* They must come into the League with the full understand*
ing that association with the organisation will place upon them the
stigna of being called a Red; They must come into the organisation uiH
ders tending that they will have to face HIKES and his murderous Red
Squad; they can expect that when they go out. to photograph scenes at a
demonstration, they will probably be thrown- into jail and get their
heads bashed in, as well* However, OBNITZ added, the members of this
League will have the compensation of -a conscience which rests assured
in its conviction that the owner of said conscience, has done his best
for the revolutionary cause. n Personally*, said OENITZ, *I don't see
any fun in living unlees you can take these chances* I don't know what
justification there is for your living unless you are willing to be
beaten up or jailed for the cause of the revolution* 9
"ORNITZ sneered at the type of motion pictures which is
being produced* He said that the actors Are tired of love scenes sad
•all that rubbish 9 . They want to make revolutionary pictures, which
actually deal with the class struggle ♦ He declared that it was a reve-
lation to him *hen he found that eo many of the actors and extras are
Red*
"ORNITZ spoke of having been in Kentucky and of seeing
the hunger, misery and want of the poor people there* He said it would
have been invaluable if he could have made pictures of the children
with their bodies emaciated from hunger, and their little lege that
looked like sticks* He added that he is under indictment in Kentucky
and that he was exiled frw there* V ^
"1
"He declared that the major studios are now consider-
ing making some Russian pic tars a. He told of the gradual radicalise-
tion ox some ox the greater lights in the picture business* He re-
ferred to "Red Square", the picture which Columbia was preparing to
make* He said, in connection with this, that LAURENCE STALLINOS me
assigned to write the script for "Red Square". S TALLIN GB had always
been viciously opposed to the Soviet Union* In fact, he became furi-
ous when the revolutionary country *** mentioned in his presence . In
order to gather the proper information for his assignment, he went to
Russia in the company of MILESTONE, the director, who is a Russian by
birth*
"After spending a little time In Russia, MIL3STONB and
S TALLIN GS returned to America* STALLMCS 1 sentiments towards the Soviet
Onion appeared to have undergone a complete change* He is now quite
sympathetic towards Russia, and the script which he wrote for "Red
Snn*r*> nmvtfi tn ha mrrnmadi ntrl v n vmn* thutd e towards tha Rad Ho Yfi ramant «
■At this point, IOC HEIFETZ, who was sitting in the audi-
ence, asked ORNITZ for permission to make a statement* OBNITZ begged
that he do so, and HEEFETZ said, "Comrades, I have bad news for you* I
imb WAumwA* uvua^ <uiu wuv; at* iw ^vjlxi^ w «hm« ijv{i4««w • a
saw the script which STAHJNGS wrote and regard it ae the finest piece
of literary work I have seen for sons time. *
"ORNITZ displayed great chagrin at this announcement*
• 1 A
hsltctz aooea rurtner tnat uie puoxicxiy man at uoxumnia saxa w aim*
"There's no use talking - we've got to sell the Americans on Russia*"
"The meeting then continued in its informal way, with
questions from the floor, and either OBNITZ or 0* TOOLE answering them,
"Someone in the audience asked if any technicians be-
longed to the Film and Photo League as yet* O'TOOXZ replied that
there are camera men, cutters and writer* in the membership at present*
It might be mentioned at this point that he announced that HASHT KOUER,
fomerly * member of the YCL, is a cutter at U.G*M*
"Scraps of pictures which SBCLNOFF had taken, worm shown,
at this time, but because they were shorts and were not correctly ae-
a tabled tha affaet ma h*d~"
J
LARGE F3MAKCIAL CONTRIBUTORS IP THE COMMUNIST PARTY AT AM
SA^LY DATE U935 - 193oT
Sourc* G furnishad the Agant a copy of a report which was
prepared early in 1936 for certain picture producers. This report is as fol-
lows:!^
- "from among the fabulous-salaried axscutives, director* ,
actors, scenario writers, etc., of the motion picture industry, hare
come the Communist Party 1 a most liberal financial supporters. Without
the huge monthly contribution* of these persons, the Communist Party
wouixi nave oeen nanaicappea in mmw iims wm hwuhwa wi»
at 224 S* Spring Street and at 230 S* Spring Street^! (u,]
"These contributors are given the utmost in protection
by the Communist Party* One trusted Party member acta as collector,
and once each month, visit e the various contributors for the purpose of
making the collections* An official receipt is given* Only a trusted
few of the Party members know the names of the contributors* There is
one outstanding example of exposure, and that was the case of where
JAMES CAGNEPS rune was broadcast after letters had been found, identi-
fying him as a Coaaunist sympathizer and supporter* Thie experience
caused a tightening of the apparatus hand! lag collections, *tCe(^U)
"JAMES CAGNEY'S nwaa is among those at the head of the
list of haavy ccmtj^utors^ He can be counted upon to make additio n al
contributions in emergency cases, as well a* to maintain his regular
monthly payments *^i( oA
/
"FRANK DAVIS, assistant producer and director, whose
home is at 338 N* Harrington Drive, Brentwood Heights, makes a regular
monthly donation of $500*00 to the Communist Party* DAVIS recently
flew his own plane to Yuma, where he was married to TESS SLSSINCER*
TESS SLESETC2EB, incidentally, divorced her former husband because he
did not share her radical ideas; "She is a scenario writer* She, like
DAVIS, is a staunch supporter of Communiart*{^u-)
"Last May, FRANK DAVIS, accompanied by Mrs* BEHTL LA
CAVA, wife of GHEQQHT LA CAVA (motion picture director), went to Russia*
He declared that his purpose in visiting Russia was to determine for
himself, that HEARST was printing lies about that country* DAVIS said
he was going to fly over the Ukraine and convince himself that starvation
was unknown there #£S*^\>^
"Before leaving for Hew Tork, on the first stage of the aV
Russian trip, FRANK DAVIS made a gift of a Ford 7-3 coupe to the Los ri
Angeles Section of the Commuhist Party* The Ford had*een one of his
personal cars and the signing over of the certificate of ownership
seemed a trifling thing to him* At the time he left for Russia, he,
was donating 4100*00 per month to tha Party. The Increasing of the
monthly contribution to $$00*00 apparently indicates that his devcw^
tion to Coamunisa has increased considerably since that time^a^ |t_Lj
"It may be interesting to note here that last summer,
the C*E*C. of tha Communist Party sent a man known only as "LAKRENCE*,
frpm New York to Los Angeles, for the specific purpose of organising
the wealthy sympathizers into a disciplined group* These wealthy Com- -
onanist sympathizers were told that the Party needed their support and
would protect thw« Since that time, the monthly collections hare been
made in an organised manner and toe income of the Cocomunist Party has
been incredibly increased* A certain percentage of all collections re-
mains in the treasury of ths Los Angelas Section, some goes to the Dis-
trict and the balance to New Tork.^J^X-j
"MARION AINSLES, scenario writer, was also among the con-
tributors to the Party* Last summer, she was donating $50*00 per month*
In September, she went to Russia to join her husband, who has been a
student in tha University of Moscow for about three years* He ia major-
will assign him to some major position in this field, MARION AINSLES
will return to America with her husband, and without a doubt, her dona-
tions will resume their regularity*^ \)Xj)
"SAM CRKITZ, writer, has long been identified with the
revolutionary movement* His monetary contributions to the cause of
revolution and the somatization of the United States, are made through
the International Labor Defense* Besides his monetary contributions,
he contributes much in writing* He also speaks at various radical af-
fairs and is mightily interested in the production of motion pictures
which will act as mediums for the dissemination of revolutionary pro-
paganda •
"OUT END0HB, writer, ia also listed as a sympathizer and
contributor*^^jS *
"HUTH CHATTEHS0N, the star, is described as being extreme-
ly sympathetic and can be counted upon to make liberal contributions when
called upon j^jO^
"LIONEL STANDEE, the comedian who is becoming so popular,
is a member of the Communist Party and is probably assessed by the Party,
for a considerable percentage of his large salary*^^ u\
V\ .JSQ
(
"FRANK TUTTIS, notion picture director, is among the dev-
otees to the Soviet idee. The extent of hie contribution to the more-
moot, has not been learned by the writer, but it is understood that he
is most liberal. His wife, TANIA, was the sponsor of a large affair
held at the fashionable Trocadero, some tine ago, the proceeds of which
went to the Scottsboro Defense •^(u^)
"EDWARD G. ROBINSON, star, is an admitted Comaunist sym-
pathiser. He contributes heavily. Last summer, he attended the "protest
meeting* held at the Vine Street Playhouse in Hollywood, which was held
for the purpose of the so-called attack upon BILL GHIEH. It may be^ re-
called that BILL G3HXSR, a mtaber of the Communist Party, **» aeeistiag
in the presentaUon of the anti-fascist play, "Till the Day I Die", at
the Tine Street Theater, at that time. One night, he claimed, he was
way-laid as he left the Theatre and severely beaten. Communists and sym-
pathize" immediately arranged the protest meeting, at which C2HER, lean-
ing heavily upon a cane aodatteapting to look wan, waa the star* EDWARD
G, ROBINSON attended this meeting, occupying a seat down front. He was
>ng those most vociferously voicing their anger at the attack upon GHD5!
f "XXi was xearnea *zro iulhu vxjlajh, 10 uv^ieu^ w w»v» w-
ward tendencies. At a meeting of writer* and prese correspondent* , KDIQ
VTDOR remarked that Russia is making the very beat motion pictures being
produced anywhere in the world today* He attributed this fact to the
fact that the producers "are not hampered by having to consider box-office
results", as the Soviet Union is not interested in profits »
"VICTOR SHAPIRO, publicity man at Twentieth-Century Fox,
has joined the band of Ooauunist supporters* He is willing to coutri-
oute uot» only mouoy uuv jsls mwy <*• yw/ a i wi igr ubu> <*« iw-uk,
all of the facilities at hie command, for conversion to Conaaunist re-
quirements
"It has been reported that LEfflS MILESTONE is rapidly
coming a believer in the Russian precepts, And that he is willing to
contribute to the cause in any wsy he is able to*
"It may be apropos to make some reference here to the play,
Hn XI Ti.-J ft ru I / m«.k »k<a nl •« _c m KA^I n. *■ Ka Wmkak* I PI IlK
"BUfJf Ml* 1/V«U»" VIM UBiVU «-7 VM, UU4.B yiaj nws i 9«U WW iivww- ■■"■»■'
on Hollywood 3oulevard, with FREDERIC MARCH and his wife, FLORENCE EL-
DREDGE, readthgrttw-aajor roles. Among the notables attending this reed-
ing were JAMES CAGNET, LIONEL STANDEE, ONSLOW STEVENS, DUDLEY NICHOLS (who
recently-refused to accept the academy award, claiming that it was not a
fairly conducted procedure and that it is an empty gesture), FRANK TUTTLE
and his wife and JOHN CRQUTIELL, the well known director who has a magni-
ficent estate in Hidden Valley, v ' y
•4
)
ft
r ^
"It is understood that there has been considerable
friendly rivalry among the directors and actors, in attempts to secure
the coveted roles ♦ A clipping from the "Western Hforker" indisputably
identifies some of these option picture celebrities with the powerful
anti-war play* (enclosed). In the Los Angeles Times of April 19th,
1936, an article appeared, wording of which was as follows,
« »BUHX THE DEAD 1 TO BE PBDDUCSD. -
" f The reception accorded f Bury the Dead 1 in New York
has prompted Contemporary Theatre to produce this anti-war play in Ips
Angeles ♦
" 'Following a conference with JOHN C50MVEIX and EQON
BHEECHER, who win co-direct, Contemporary Theatre has announced that
tDuwfp TUa ctrl f will on -I ntn whoanMl 1 gffi^dj » t.o1 tr_ AftrO ^ n g to th«
present plans, it will open in May.'
"CEERCE HELLCREN, who is credit manager for the loan as-
sociation conducted by the Fox Studios, and who is head of the safety
department as well, is a heavy contributor to the revolutionary move-
ment* He contributes to every campaign and activity. He is oaployed
at the Fox V/estwood Studios* ^
"CLIFFORD ODETTS, well known writer, is another Coomunist
Party member and supporter. He came to Hollywood recently from New York
and accepted a position at $2500.00 per week at Paramount Studios*
^Regarding! CUFPOHD ODETTS*
"The following was learned today from a reliable and
extremely confidential source*
"CLIFFORD QDETTS is the author of the antifascist play,
"Til the Day I Die" and of "Waiting for Lefty" • These plays created a
great furor when presented* For a long time, ODETTS, although a well
known writer and playwright, had been struggling for a livelihood in
New York.
"After the smash successes of his plays, the motion pic-
ture producers sat up and took notice of him* He was offered an enticing
job at the salary of $2500*00 per week, in Hollywood* It appears that
ODETTS did not eren have to make up his own mind on the matter, for the
CJ3.C« of the Communist Party - upon learning of the offer - instructed
- 21 -
0D5TTS to go to Hollywood without delay and accept the S&W^WS^t "
GDETTS carried out hie instruction and upon reaching Hollywood, signed
a contract for two years or so. ODETTES dram a salary of $2500*00 per
is given a snail allowance by the Party f vl^
INTRODUCTION OF COMMUNIST PARTI ACTIVITIES IN HOLLYWOOD IWTICW
_ PICTURE. UBOR UNIONS
Source H has stated that it was not until 1934 that the
Communist International (Comintern) headquarters in Moscow, Russia discovered
the tremendous possibilities of the motion picture as a means of propaganda
to serve the foreigp. policy of the Soviet Union and spread its brand of Com-
munism everywhere throughout the world wnere motion pictures are shown*^/ ^ CL)
Source stated that up to that time, which was the latter
part of 1934, the Communist Party in the United States had had no specific
instructions to concentrate on the Hollywood motion picture industry with
the object of capturing the labor unions of the worker? in that industry and
influencing others in cultural fields in Hollywood. (L f ULJ
Source stated that this is correct is borne out by what
at 2500 Brooklyn Avenue, Boyle Heights, in the fall of 1933 at which time
SAMUEL DARCT, then the Communist party organizer of District 13 of the Party
under which the territory of Southern California operates, severely criticized
one of the comrades for mentioning the possibility of penetrating the motion
picture industry. DARCT said at that time that Communists had no business
wasting their efforts in "swanky Hollywood 11 . Their place, he said, was down
in the industrial districts, the ^shipyards end the harbor where the real Com-
munist work was to be done.NjVM M
LSource H stated) tHat at about the same time, or shortly
before that time, a Russian motion picture director, SERGEI EIS2MSTSIN, had
^j&ade a picture in Mexico in cooperation with UFJOH SINCLAIR, called "Thunder
Over Mexico" • This picture was called "an epoch of revolution 11 by Onouniste
and sympathizers. It was exhibited extensively in the United State* add at
the Lux Theater in Hollywood*
EISENSTSIN case to Hollywood at this time and was received
with much acclaim by executives, writers and actors alike. He was wined and
dined and shown every consideration. He was much impressed with the industry
but criticized the type of pictures made. He stated that they were not suffi-
ciently socially conscious.
- 22 -
Source stated that late in 1934 SI50JSTEIN returned to
Russia and has never returned to the United States so far as Source is in-
formed* Source further stated that not long after EISIMSTE1M arrived in
Russia an article was published in the "Communist", the official monthly
organ of the Comintern in the United States* fl n_this article the possibil-
ities of Cocsnunist penetration of the Hollywocff~mDtion picture industry was
stressed and propaganda possibilities of the motion pictures were enlarged
d£>wn~in mimeographed form (these coanunications are called "directives*)
from the top structure of the Party to all units in the Los Angeles section
that there must be an intense concentration on Hollywood and the motion pic-
ture industry* The article emphasized the fact that the Communists must try
to capture the labor unions for, if this could be done, they could be of much
service in influencing the type of pictures produced and thus serve the Soviet
cause. \ The article emphasized that at the same time work aust be done among
the cultural group, writers, artists, actors, actresses, and others, to enlist
their assistance toward the Communist cause*
There is being set out below a history of activities of
the Communist Party as they were applied to the labor unions in the nation
picture industry in Hollywood from the year 1934 when the Communist Party de-
cided to enter that tield, until the present time*
HOmWDQD STUDIO UKIPHS
^jjwui^,i| writ* nod uogji a urauuoj- Mi 9 *wr ♦ gi .u* iwur
unions in Hollywood for many years, has stateajihat the International Alliance
of Theatrical Stage Employees, an autonomous group of local unions identified
with the American Federation of Labor, is one of the oldest group of unions
now in existence in the United States* In fact it is older than the American
Federation of Labor itself*
When it affiliated with the A.F. of L. in the early nine-
^ ties of the last century it was granted jurisdiction over the working crafts
"In the theatrical business, stage carpenters, stage electricians, property
men, grips, flymen, and later when the motion pictures came into existence,
the motion picture machine operators*
Source stated that when the motion picture industry a
into existence it was looked upon as a branch or rather an extension of the
theatrical business, differing only in principle by reason of the fact that
the camera and projection machine were interposed between the actors and the
audience*
23
Zl-£ource I further state^Lat by reason of this fact the
try contending, and rightly, that their charter issued by the A#F* of L*
covered this field* Shortly after the first motion picture studio was erected
in Hollywood in 1911 the I.A*T.S*3* began organizing the -workers in the Holly-
wood studios* This was about the year 1912. This jurisdiction was recognised
and I*A*T.S.B* waa the only union organization in Hollywood for some years*
- /Source I further stated] that in the meantime, with the
great expansion of the industry and the practice of building large outdoor
sets and spectacular effeets which took the place of painted backgrounds and
makeshift sets, the building trade crafts , carpenters, painters, plasterers
and others wen casting eyes on this field and preparing to enter it*
In 1921 the I*A*T.S.E. called a strike of its workers in
a dispute with the studios* Immediately the building crafts stepped in and
broke the strike, and succeeded in establishing themselres as a part of the
Hollywood studio union organisations where they hare remained up to the pres-
ent tine* The I*A.T*S*E. was left with a nailer group of locals which they
have succeeded in retaining* r ^
^Source I further sUtecfl toat in 1933 in a dispute with
the Hollyrood producers, the I*A.T*S.E* called a strike* Again the building
trades, especially the International Brotherhood of Electrical tibrkers, broke
the strike by taking the place of the members of the I*A*T*S*S* This strike
was purely a jurisdictional one, as was the one in 1921*
r
LSource I further stated) that as a result of this fight
over jurisdiction, the workers in the motion picture industry in Hollywood
became very much disgusted and b«gan deserting the unions* Membership of
all groups dropped until they could be numbered in a few hundreds instead of
thousands* The result was that a very chaotic condition existed in 1933 as
many of the 'workers had lost confidence in the A*P. of L* \
He stated that up until this time the Camounist Party had
[ored the motion picture unions, not considering them worth bothering about*
It was concentrating on factories, shipping and large industrial concerns*
This was the Communist Party line at that time*
LSource I further stated that suddenly awaking to the sit-
uation and taking advantage of the disorganized condition of the studio unions,
the group of Communists and fellow travellers in Hollywood held a series of
meetings in the fall of 1933 > the result of which was a decision to enter the
aotion picture field, and in January of 1934 they created an organisation for
the purpose of entering the field. This organisation was the MOTION PICTURE
WORKERS INDUSTRIAL UNION* It was an independent group coop3,*t£Ay under the
')
- 1
control of the Communist elements, taking orders from tha local functionary
of tha Communist Party ^
1CTI0N PICTURE TORKERS INDUSTRIAL UNION
^Source J has informedjthi Los Angeles Bureau Office that
the^Motion Picture Workers Industrial Union was formed on or about January 1, ..
1934* He has stated that this union was formed for the purpose of taking over
and organising all workers of all classifications in the motion picture indus-
try into one organization* Prior to that time, in 1933, he stated there was
a strike in the motion picture industry called by the I«A,T»S«E« which had a
foothold in the motion picture industry since about 1912* He stated that this
strike failed and due to the failure the IJUT.S.E. structure practically fell
apart and there were left only about 160 members which gave an opportunity for
a new group to step in* The result was that the U»P«W«I*U« was set up and
began to function*
{This union was independent - was not affiliated with the
A.F. of L« (The C.I.O. at that time had not come into existence)* Source J
stated that although the LLP.TLI.U. was under the control and domination of
the Communist Party j working through the Communist Party fraction of the union,
it never affiliated with the Trade Union Unity League* Demands were made on
the organiser of this union* H. G. VDLFE by LAWRENCE BOSS' (the correct name of
LA77HENCE ROSS was LAWRENCE RQSENFSLD), the section secretary of the Communist
Party* KUTKR HANOFF, organizer for the Communist Party, MAYER BAYLIN, a func-
tionary of the Communist Party, and JAMSS ALLEN, organisational secretary of
the Communist Party, made demands on YJOLFE that the U.P.W.I.U. affiliate with
the T # U.U«L. Source stated that TfOLFE emphatically declined to affiliate and
the union continued to function as an independent union •'QH* ^u.}
The officers of this union were the following persona:
5*L
^ HEI2JER BERGMAN, President* January 1, 1934 to April 1* 1934.
WILFRED ff. LYON, President* Jlprll 1* 1934 to February 1* 1935
MILDRED FLEMING, Secretary*. — -
ETTOHE CONTINI, Treasurer*
H. G. flOLFE, Organiser*
ED M. GUBERT, Member Executive Board*
yy DON GORDON,
JOHB L3 0SCHEH ,
LOUIS HEIFETZ,
RUDOLPH KOHL,
HffTMKR PEDERSON,
ARTHUR JOHNSON*
BORIS GOLDBLATT,
SAM QOIDBLATT,
M
1 )
r ^
H^mKR BERGMAN * Source K has stated that BERGMAN wae born in Sweden
but is a naturalised citizen by reason of the naturalization of his father;
that BERQIAN was a propagandist for the Communist Party of Russia} that he
taught in tho Communist Yforkers School in Hollywood at 1757 North Highland
Avenue in 1934; that his subject was '•The Ccccaunist Manifesto ■♦^^<JL)
Source stated that BERGMAN went to Russia in 1935 with
HENRI HcCAMT, a writer in Hollywood; that McCARTT paid the expenses of "
both on this trip; that they stayed in Russia for about three or four months*
He stated that when they returned to the United States BERGMAN became the
local chairman of the American League Against War and Fascism, and that in
1935 BERCHAN attended the Communist Party Section Convention which was held
at 226 South Spring Street, Los Angeles* He stated that at this convention
BERGMAN officially represented the American League Against War and Fascism*
Source further stated that in 1936 BERGMAN met with the Soviet representatives
q+ ttht Russian motion picture industry who were in Hollywood to select sldLUed
workers for the motion picture industry in Russia* He stated that BERGMAN
aided the* in selecting this group to go to Russia and work in the Soviet
Union* He stated that sons of the persons selected to go to Russia were ^
KEIiiER BERC2JAN, WILFRED YL LYON, BORIS QOIDBLATT, SAM GQLDBLATT, AIXEHJTONTER, I
JAUES B« ALLAN, and some others, about ten or twelve in all* Of tfiese parti e a *
BERGMAN, HON, and the two GOIDBLATTS were leaders in the Communist Party in
the Los Angeles area* He stated that BERGMAN stayed in Russia about two years.
The others returned at the end of one year* He further stated that after BERG-
^AN returned from Russia he lectured at open forums, dinners, small community
forums, discussion clubs, all. of which were very pro-Soviet and pro-Cooraunist*
He stated that BERGMAN carried on this activity until about one year ago when
he became inactive. He also stated that BERGHAN is a close associate of NORA.
HELLGREM and her husband, GEORGE HELLGHEN, and that BERGMAN has made his head-
quarters at the HELLGHEN home since 1933*1^U*) iCj U.)
Source U has info medj the Los Angeles Bureau
^Office that NORA HELLGHEN is an outstanding member of the Communist Party; that
Hhe was born in Pennsylvania and went Europe as a social worker j that she
War; that later she became the English secretary to CHICHERIN, the first for-
eign commissar in the Soviet Union* Source stated that she is very familiar
with Russian affairs; that she is one of the old trusted members of the Com-
munist Party in Hollywood; that she is about 58 years of age at the present
time* He stated that her husband, GBORGE HELLGHEN. waa bom in Chicago, Ill-
inois of Swedish parentage; that GEORGE HELLGHEN is about forty years of age
and is the credit executive at the Twentieth Century Fox Studios; that he is
also the credit adviser of the Motion Picture Cooperative Buyers Guild* He A
stated that it is hie belief and understanding that GEORGE HELLGHEN is not a QJ^
member of the Communist Party, but that he supports everytJiU^ that NORA
- 26 -
1 )
HELLGHEN believes in and follows the Communist Party line and is Just as en-
thusiastic about Communism as NORA HEUXHEN is, but it is believed that he
has never been accepted as a member of the Communist Party. s
WILLFRSD W. LYON . ^Source N has infoiraedjttiat LYON was
bom in New Jersey and is about 45 to 43 years of age; that ne was active in
liberal and discussion groups during the UPTON SINCLAIR campaign for Gover-
nor of California in 1934; that LYON is a high precision mechanic and an
expert on motion picture cameras. Source stated that LYON was employed in
1934 by the IXitchell Camera Company, manufacturers of motion picture cameras;
that he organized the men in that plant and brought them into the M.P.W.I.U.
Source stated that in 1936 he was selected by the representatives of the So-
viet goveraent to go to Russia and work as a motion picture mechanic; that
LYON stayed in Russia about nine months and when he came back to this coun-
try he became active in the union organization in the C.I.O. Rubber Wbricere
Union. He stated that LYON was radical for years but was not a Coamunist
until he came back from Russia in 1937 > at which time it was reported that
he joined the Communist Party and had been made a member of the Section Com-
mittee of the Communist Party in Los Angeles* Source stated that it was also
reported that he went to Salt Lake City more than a year ago and that it has
been further reported that he has dropped out of Communis* completely and has
had no connection with the Communist Party in the last two years.\
miDR"3) FLSgSG . ^Source 0 has advise^that 1CLDRED FLEM-
ING was born in the United States and is approximately forty years of age;
that she was a reader in the studios and became secretary of the U.P.tf.I.U.
He stated that when the li.P.Y/.I.U. was dissolved, she became an enthusiastic
member of the Motion Picture Democratic Committee and was married to STANLEY
ROGERS, an art director. He stated that she is a reader in the studios at
the present time. He further stated that she wrote articles for "Black and
White 11 in 1939 , a publication put out by the Young Communists League* He fur-
active at the Hollywood Writers School* He stated that she is a very close
friend and associate of DON GORDON* a reader at Paramount, and a very active
>Ǥmber and supporter of the Communist 'Party . He stated that her husband.
STANLEY ROGERS, is a sponsor of the National Federation for Constitutional
Liberties* Source further stated that ROGERS is also a member of the execu-
tive board of the Ifotion Picture Cooperative Buyers Guild.
STTOKE CONTINI . [source P has state^tLt CONTINI, the
treasurer of the 1£.P.W.I.U^ was a reader at the Universal Studios and a
close friend of MILDRED FLEMING and DON GORDON. He stated that in 1933 and
1934 CONTINI was a member of the Young Communists League; that he was appoint-
ed a delegate from the M.P.W.I.U. to the American Youth Congress which met in
l£s Angeles early in 1934. He further stated that CONTINI became a Civil
Service employee in the Los Angeles County Sheriff 9 s Office a# a stenoggypher
27
or clerk in 1935 and that he la still ^ployed in tbs Sheriff's Office*
Source P sUted that it is believed that CONTCHI has not engaged in any
Co—mist Party activity since he has been in the Shwiff^s Office* >
B, WOI* . Source Q has state^thet HOLT was born at
Covington, Kentucky in 1832, that he ma* engaged in the theatrical buainsss
from about 19Q1 to about 1924 at which time he cane to Hollywood and worked
in the Hollywood studios until about 1933 * Source stated that HOLF became
the organiser of the M.PJM.U. January l f 1934 and oontinued as organiser
until 1936 at which tine the union was dissolved* Source further stated
that SDLF became a member of the Comunist Party about Hovembor* 1933 and
left the Coonunist Party the latter part of 1935; that from 1935 to date he
has been employed as a utility worker in Hollywood nod is a member of Local
724 of tbs Utility Workers Union* A.P* of L# f Hollywood* , ^
ED M. (tTTBKBT , [Source S has edvieed\thet GILBERT was
born in lest Virginia and is about 45 years of age; thatrhe is at preasnt
Vil WHO VJUWUWXV
— * w rt w
_ _ _ _ .. . to «j
fession GIIBffiT is a set designer or draftsman and that he is now mployed
in various studios in Hollywood* He stated that in 1941 GILBERT was the
President of the set designers geild, *ich is affiliated with the A»F. of
I~, a studio onion* Source has further stated that he has been a member of
the Cowinist Party since 1933 «d has held many Communist Party fraction
meetings at his home and has been otbend.es very active in the Communist
Party affaire; that he is a real fanatic on the subject of Communism*
Source further stated that in 1935 GILBERT wae the representative of the
top fraction of the Coonunist Party to the Labor Cn— lesion of the Conaun-
ist Party for the city of Los Angeles; that he was a delegate to the Con-
ference of Studio Unions and a close associate of HEBBKHt K, SOHRSLL, and
that he is and has been tor a long time a mmbw of the Motion Picture Dem-
ocratic Committee*^ A^ttJ
IHHIH P, HBTCSCHg. . /Jouroe 8 has advis+^j that HBfTSCHSL
was born in Montana and that he is about 38 years of age; titffc he is an lrom
worker or prop maker and is regularly employed at the Hollywood studios*
Source stated that HBTESCHEL is a member of local 44* X JUT.S.S* in Holly-
that be mas a mwbcr of the execuUve board* M.P.W.I.tf, and has been
of the Communist Party since 1934« Source stated that evidence of
his Mmberstdp in the Communist Party and his activities in the Communist
Party is contained in correspondence between HOT HUDSON* a member of the
Centre! Committee of the Cmmaunist Party in lew Yor k City and the leading
Ceramist in trade union work in the Party and JEFF KXBHE* the leading Com-
munist in Hollywood trade union work at that time* (This information is / «j
contained in Exhibits Ho. 1 and 2 which will be attached to this report. K
- 28 -
.<•. • • y
DON GORDON . Source T hu informed Agent that the Com*
muni st Party rume of DON QORDON Is JOHN SHFHHOOD and that ha was born in
the state of Connecticut and is about 46 years of age* So urea has atatad
that from 1934 to 1936 GORDON ma a mother of the executive board of the
U.P.JT.I.tL. Ha further atatad that GORDON has been a tabir of tha CcaimuD-
iat Party gjn^a 1936 ! that in 1936 ha solicited Source to beccss a seabar
of the Communist Party. Source' further advised that GORDON is at'the bead
of tha reading department of Paramount Studio a at the present time. He
further atatad that GORDON la a member of tha League of American Writers and
that he hao taught at ths Writers School. Ha also stated that GORDON had
contributed articles to the magazine "Black and *Vhite" published by the Young
Communists League and managed by "ILL R0G3C, JR., and that he was also con-
nected with the "Clipper", the official organ of the League of Aaerican
Writers.
II T
source « nas aavisea Agent znaz wvsqheh
was born in California and that he is about 47 years of age; that he is a
member of local 946 Studio Carpenters, A.F. of L. Source further advised
that LOOSCtoJ was a member of tha executive board and aergeant-at-arms of
the M.P.tt,I.U. He further advised that in 1934 I0OSCH3J was a meofcer of the
Pen and Hanser Club and that he joined the Communist Party in 1934 and with*
drew about a year and a half later. Source stated, however, that L0OSCH5N
is still sympathetic to the Corcnunist party. He further stated that LOOS CHEN
attended a meeting at the Embassy Audi tori us about September, 1942 which meet-
ing wae for the benefit of the "People* s World" and at which meeting 1£LKE QUHi,
a "People's Wbrld" columnist, and JOHN PITTUAN, another "People 9 a World" col-
umnist, were the principal speakers. He further stated that 5D BOBBIN, the
Communist Party radio commentator, was the chairman of this meeting*
LOUIS H5IFSTZ. Source 7 has informed that H3IFETZ was
born in Boston, Kassachusctts, and was a script writer, that he is at the
pres ent time a member of the Screen Writers Guild. Source stated that fd-
F2TT has never been a ia«*nber of the Coonvunist Party, that he has been so-
licited on many occasions to join the Party, but he has never done so, but
he always follows the Cossaunist Party line specifically.
^RUDOLPH KOHL * Source V has informed that K ,X HL is a mem-
ber of I peal 644 of the Studio Painters* He further advised that KOHL was a
member of the executive board of the .P.Tf.I.U. and was active in this union,
having recruited more members into the Communists than any one Individual,
Source V stated that KOHL has been a member of the Communist Party since 1934.
He advised that KOHL was appointed a regional director of the Hollywood Studio
organization campaign of the C.I.O. in 1954 by HAHHT 3RHXSS, at which time
the C.I.O. was endeavoring to take over the studio unions and at that time
the unions were all A.F. of L. or independent. Source stated that KOHL ie
still an act! Ye Co— mist and that he attended the National Convention of the
Communist Party in 1939 as a delegate from California.
- 29 -
f *
HEI2iER FEDERSON . ^Source W hw adviseojHhe Los Angela*
Bureau Office that PSDEHSON was born In Norway or Sweden and that he claims
to be a naturalised citizen* Source stated that FEDERSON is an ex-Socialist;
that he is a member of Local 946 of the Studio Carpenters, and that he is
about sixty years of age at the present time* Source stated that FSD3RS0N
was a member of the Communist Party in 1935 and 1936 and was active in Swedish
ciubs #
ARTHUR J0HK50H * (Source X has inforaed) Agent that JOHNSON*
was never a Communist; that he was definitely against the Communists. He
stated that JOHNSON was working in the machine shop at Technicolor and that
he was a member of the executive board of the M.P.TT.I.U. He stated that JOHN*
SON saw that the M.P.W.I.U* was Communist controlled and he withdrew from the
M.P.W.I.U. Source stated that he is at the present time a very active Techno-
crat*
mTDRT.iiTT- Asource T has informed Kite Ins Angelas
<x6 *)
Bureau Office that QOLDBLATT was born in Russia* He is about sixty years of
age and claims to have been naturalized in New York City as soon as it was
possible for him to become naturalized after his arrival in the United States*
Source stated that GOLDBLATT cl aims to have taken part in the 1909 revolution
in Russia* Source stated that he mrks at the present time as a studio car-
penter and is a member of Carpenters Union 946* He further stated that (DID-
BLATT is the father of SAM GOLDBLATT and LOUIS GOLDBLATT, outstanding Commun-
ist Party functionaries in California. Source stated that BORIS GOLDBLATT was
a member of the executive board of the M.P.TT.I.U. end made a trip to Russia
in 1935 when the Soviet Government took over a group of Hollywood workers in the
motion picture industry to participate in the Russian motion picture industry*
Source stated that BORIS GOLDBLATT is a staunch fellow traveller and follows
the Communist Party line on all occasions, but he stated that BORIS GOLDBLATT
has never been a number of the Communist Party. Ht stated that QOLDBLATT has
confined his activities to the I.C.0*R. ftj^S)
♦y feAM GOLDBLATT * fSeurce Z has inf onasdj Agent that SAM QOID-
^ BLATT was born in the United States*' -He also claims that his father, BORIS
QOLDBLATT, was naturalized in New York City* Source stated that SAU 00IDBLATT
is a member of Local 683 > Laboratory Technicians, I.A.T*S«E** Hollywood* Hs
also stated that SAM GOIDBLATT was a member of the executive board of the
M^P.W.I.U. and was a member of and a leader in the Young Communists League in
1934, 1935 and 1936. Source stated that SAU GOIDBLATT is now a member of the
Communist Party under the name of TED MILLER; that he is extremely active in
Hollywood union matters serving the Communist Party and has supported various
front organisations and the Motion Picture Democratic Committee .(3)
-30- i
J
J
9
LOUIS QOLDBLATT* jSource Z has further advised^ tJlat
LOUIS GOLDBLATT, a brother of SAM and son of BORIS, has not been active in
the motion picture field, but that he has been the secretary of the State
C.I.Q* Industrial Union Council at San Francisco for several years and very
active in Communist affairs throughout the state, and that he left Los An-
geles in ilarch, 1942 and the reason is that he is now in Chicago, Illinois,
carrying on C.I.O* organizational work*
LINE NOW CHANCES (193?)
Source 2-A has informed the Los Angeles Bureau Office
that {in April, 1935, instructions were sent out by the Central Committee of
the Communist Party that the Party line had changed and that all independent
unions were to be liquidated and their members sent into the A»F. of L* unions
with the object of capturing the A.F. of L* This policy was followed by the
M.P.YM.U. In a short tiaa this union took in a large number of members and
was well on the way to becoming the leading union in Hollywood* In a short
time the Comnunists in the union and their fellow travellers began to desert
and go over into the various locals of the A*F. of L.] All of these A.F. of
L* locals were mere shells • t/\*f J
In order to bring about the dissolution of the tf,P.?M % l\
the Ccumunists used every trick of sabotage known, such as circulating rumors
that it was a company union and advising all workers to stay away from it,
although they themselves had built it*
[Source stated that as a result of this the M.P.7/.I.U.
gradually went out of existence and in February, 1936 it was officially dis-
solved* ]
y Source further stated that this union was the forerunner
yand prepared the way which has enabled thm Communist Party to gain control
->0ver s i* A#F. of L* labor unions in the* Hollywood motion picture field, the
number of workers in which was approximately 8,000. In addition to these
six A.F. of L* labor unions, the Communist Party has gained control over six
independent labor unions which were called guilds and which had approximately
2,000 members* Source stated that in addition to the A.F. of L. labor unions
and the independent guilds referred to herein, there were approximately 25
other labor organizations in the motion picture industry in Hollywood with
an approximate membership of 13,000 to 20,000* These 25 guilds and unions*,
represented their members for the purpose of collective bargaining* Thm Com-
munist Party did not completely control these groups but it was, incidentally,
waging a campaign to take over these groups and force them into the Communist
Party line for the benefit of the Communist Party Q*(U)
\
r
\
Source stated that this period of the life of the H.
W.I.U* was the period during which the Communist Party of the United State*
advocated the changing in their program by revolutionary methods. The slogan
during that period was that the American people must adopt "the revolutionary
way out of the crisis* n
Source stated further that this was the period of acute
the- purpose of fomenting revolution and before the change in the Communist
Party line early in 1936 which ushered in what was called:
"THE POPULAR FRONT"
At this time the position which the Communist Party took
was that the New Deal was the first step toward Fascism and that President
ROOSEVELT was setting himself up as a dictator, and that this was the last
Presidential election we would see*
Source stated that there was a meeting held in the Holly-
wood Conservatory of Music about June, 193** under the auspices of the H«P*W.
I.U., at which meeting MAURICE SUGAR from Detroit, Michigan, was the principal
speaker* He stated that SUGAR was brought to the Pacific Coast by the John
Reed Club of Hollywood, which afterward became the League of American Writers,
Hollywood Chapter, and affiliated with the International Union of Revolutionary
Writers, set up in Kharkov, Russia in Hovenber 1930«(<y *C
Source stated that at this meeting MAURICE SUGAR attacked
the ROOSEVELT Artnini at ration and New Deal, saying:
"This is the beginning of fascism in America; that
ROOSEVELT was the coming dictator; and the N.R.A. was the 'Na-
tional Run-Around 1 *•
Source stated that the whole trend of SUGAR'S address was
^>-that no confidence could be placed in, democracy and democratic principles as
^practiced In the United States and that the only solution was the establish-
ment of "a workers' government"*
Source further stated that the John Reed Club which
brought SUGAR to Hollywood, was a Communist front organisation, the dominant
figure of ufaich was HARRY CARLISLE, bom in America, a member of the Communist
Party and a leading Communist in Southern California at that time* He stated
that other members active in the John Reed Club at that time were&Z
(jffiLMER BERGMAN - Communist Party functionary
JOHN HOW A FT) TJtfKON - Dcminant Communist in Taa Anceleft artit \ I
7 ~" H '
NEIL BRANT - member and organizer for the U.K.RJIJLA. \
(It is reported that BRANT has a Government 1
\ job in Washington at the present tins) |
I DAVIDA FRANCHT (D« A* CORE!) - A member of ths Communist \^
Party and in 1936 the organiser for the Hollywoodl£*x
Section of ths Communist Party ♦
LAWRENCE UOSS (LAWRENCE BOSa^FEID) - Section Secretary of th^
Communist Party in Los Angeles* "
MEL VINA QOGDMAN - A member of the Communist Party*
1 DR. V. A* K. TASHJIAN - Chairman of ths Control Commission of
\ the Communist Party in Los Angeles*
DUDLST tflCHOLS - Fellow traveller, writer and director*
i NORA HELLGKEN - A high Communist Party functionary*
TiAISR BAYLIN - A member of the Section Committee of the Commun-
ist Party in Los Angel ee* (He was ordered deported
seven or eight years ago but so far as is known he has
not. bean deoortad*^
___ _ ^
te^Jttet
^Source 2-A further stated] that during the spring of 1934
CARET McWUXIAMS spoke at a M.P.W.I.U. meeting; that UcWILLIAlB is at present
the Director of the Housing and Immigration in the Governor OLSON Administra-
tion, and is a sponsor for many Communist front organizations such as the
American Peace Mobilization, National Federation for Civil Liberties, National
sr a Guild, League of American Writers, National Negro Congress, Hollywood
Ant4-Na3TLeague, Hollywood League for Democratic Action, Motion Picture Demo-
cratic Committee, American Civil Liberties Union, International Labor Defense,
and many others* (The first official act of Governor EARL 7EAER2II was the
moval of CAREY McWILLIAMS from office.)
The sane source further stated that JACK U» Y/EATHEHWAX
spoke at a meeting sponsored by the U.P.W.I.U. at the Vine Street School*
His subject was the "Breakdown cf Capitalism and the Need for A Workers
Government". Source stated that 77EATHEHWAX has been exposed by the JACK\
TDfNET Legislative Investigating Committee of the California State Legial*v-
*^,ture, as a mober of the District Ccamittee of the Communist Party in Cali-
Source further stated that in the spring of 1935 orders
cue down from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the U.S.A.
that all independent unions should bs "liquidated* and that the Communists
and their influence should be transferred over into the established A.F. of
L. unions and where there were no A.F. of L. unions alrsady established, it
should be the duty of all Communists to organize such workers under the A.F.
of L.^UC,
- 33 -
r ^
Inaiediately upon receipt of these instructions the Cos\
znunist leadership of the H.P.W.I.U* went over into the various A.F. of L. \
locals in Hollywood and began to work in those unions* (It should be under- \
stood that at the time that the M.P.TT.I.U. was organized there were a great \
many legitimate local A.F. of L. unions covering a great part of the motion X
picture industry in Hollywood, but due to a disastrous strike called by the N
I.A.T.S.E* in 1933 these unions were deeerted by their membership and had be-
come^ me^e shells*)
EFFORTS OF C.I*0* TO INFILTRATE THE STUDIO UNIONS
— "
[Source 2-A has info rmedj Agent that at the time of the
dissolution of the H*P*W.I*U. in February , i.936, there had already started
a split in the A.F. of L. JOHN L. LSWIS, who at that time was preaching the
dictrine of industrial unionism, had already early in 1936 split away fro»
the A*F* of L« and formed the Conmittee for Industrial Organization. The
theory of industrial unionist is basic in the Communist program and its sym-
pathies were for the C.1%0. in preference to the craft unionism of the A.F#
of U Source stated that at that time the Communists had already deserted
the i!.P.#.I*U* and used their influence to re-build the already existing A*
F« of L craft unions in Hollywood* They found themselves building up those
craft unions when secretly they were in favor of the C.I.O., therefore the
only way out of this anomalous position was to take over the craft unions of
Hollywood as a booy, if possible, and affiliate them with the C.I*Ot(//|0
Ihe same source further stated that although there are
many other unions in the studios, the I.A.T.S.E. group is dominant* This
alliance by no means has the majority of workers under its jurisdiction,
but it does have jurisdiction over the "key* crafts, cameramen, laboratory
workers, sound men, the majority of electricians, grips, property men, pro-
jectors, prop makers, etc* He stated that in aadition to this it has juris-
diction over the projectors in the motion pictures everywhere and it is this
v latter fact that makes this alliance the strongest union structure in the in-
">*^Lustry*
Source stated that the I*A*T*S*E*, being the strongest
unit in the industry, the Communists began their attacks upon this group*
They reasoned that if they could capture the I.A.T.S.E* the rest would be
easy*^fl(^)
Source further stated that in the fall of 1937 HAHHT
BRIDGES, regional director of the C.I.O. , on the West Coast, appointed
RUDOLPH KOHL, a member of the Communist Party in Hollywood, as regional
director for the Hollywood Section* At the time he was appointed KOHL
was a member and had at one time been the business representative of Local
644, Studio Painters, A*F* of L* This local was not a miit*Vin the I.A.T.S.E.
34
KOHL'S duties were to direct the campaign to take over the I»A.T,S«E. into
the C.I.O. KOHL at the time was a member of the A.F. of L* uniony^^J)
Mj.MTI
;tteb of motion picture arts and crafts
(C»0»M»P»A.C,1
> - - Source 2-B has stated that about December, 1937 another
organization, the Committee of Motion Picture Arts and Crafts (C.O,M*F.A.C.)
was set up in the motion picture industry which was conceived and dominated
in the usual Communist Party manner. The purpose of this organisation was to
draw the workers of every type and kind in the studios, using the prevailing
acute unemployment problem as a base* Although its activities were presum-
ably directed towards solving the unemployment problem by means of division
of work aol the creation of jobs and other means, in reality it was a scheme
♦n ma L-a rt ^ntfl^f« *mri ni*n™ auru+l mm «rkers alo ng tha linaa of the Communist
UIMfVV WV *-* ****** **** I** ^ F *™ O - ' *m^^m W"— ■ — mm v w — ■ i mm — »Q ■ ■ ■ — ~ — — - — - —
Party, and particularly to create sympathy for the C.1,0
Source stated that at first meetings of the heads of this
group outright opposition to the I.A.T.S.E* was expressed and plans were de-
vised to weaken the influence of the I.A*T.S«S. This organization was work-
ing in conjunction with the attempt of the C.I*0« to enter Hollywood*
RUDOLPH KOHL, the appointee of HAERY BRIDGES heretofore mentioned, was leader
in all of its activities* JEFF KIBRB, a well known Communist leader mentioned
in connection with this same attempt, was also active*
Source further stated that the controlling individuals
in this organization weret
JACK HOLBT, Chairman, a member of Painters Union #&U*
(He is now dead)
CHARLOTTE DARLING was secretary.
3) U 9 GILBERT, whose Communist Party connections and
activities have been set out above*
\ .. -
TTAlim MUlfTTD »• ^ X _ 1A<1J J _A. * * J — .1 * m>*m> 4»V &
- M.P.W*I*U. as. a member of the Communist
Party and iriho was active in the Hollywood
Anti-Nazi League, American League for Peace
& Democracy, and North American Aid to
Spanish Democracy.
GEORGE E, BODLE, fellow traveller who is a member of the
National Lawyers Guild an<}» a follower of the-
Communist Party line, (at present AssistanW
Director of the Man Power Commission on the f I
Pacific Coaet) * * 4
LILLIAN HEU2IAN, member of the League, American Writers,
American Peace Mobilisation who sent the call
of the Fourth Writers Congress of the League
of American Writers and a fanatical follower
_ *f _ of the CP*
( @~ u #^
HEBBERT BIBEBHAH, National Vice-President of the African Peace ■-•
Mobilisation and director of tha Southarn Califbrnia American
Paaea Mobilisation; mmber of tha Hollywood Anti-Nasi League,
League for Peace and Democracy, Motion Picture Democratic Com-
mittee who personally pickatad tha White House with tha American
Peace Mobilisation two days before HITLER attacked STALIN on
June 22, 1941* BIBEHMAH ia a member of the League of America*
Writera and hat appeared on a very large number of pro grams .
Ha baa followed the Colonist Party line unhesitatingly*
IHHIN P* HENTSCHBL, *osa record appears supra*
HERBERT K. SORRZLL, business representative of the Studio Painters
Union No. 644 , President of the Conference of Studio Guilds, ex-
President of the California State Non-Partisan League, a member
of the Communist Party aa exemplified by Communist Party Member-
ship Book for 1938 No* 60622, which gives his Coomunist Party
name as HSRB5RT STEWART, and the minutes of the Section Committee j
also the minutes of the Section Committee of the Communist Party
for 1938 show that he was a member of the Communist Party in 1938*
Professor >K)S!LUI T. of Los Angeles City College, and a member
of the Hollywood Anti-Naai Loague, BYRNE conducted the Hollywood
Peace Forum, the organization which took the place of the Holly-
wood Anti-Nazi League* Source stated that BTRNB also spoke before
many forums, churches, schools, and clubs which follow the Com-
munis t Party line and his meetings were always advertised in the
"flew Masses" and over a period of eight or ten weeks in 1939 and
1940.
Source further stated that the C.0.J1.P.A.C. raoained in
existence only eight or nine months, during which time it acted as a trans-
mission belt for the Coonunist Party, drawing studio workers into such poli-
tical setups as the Motion Ticture Democratic Committee, American League for
Peace and Democracy, Hollywood Anti-Nazi League, and the laying of the founda-
tion for the organisation rtiich was to take its place, the United Stuaio Tech-
nicians Guild (U.S.T.G*)*
Source further stated that the C.OJI.P.A.C. died a natural
death about Septaaber 1, 1938*
( ^
j _
i
i
•mTprf-sritimw m uv w uTm w of rm i*a*t.S-K^ CIEVELAM). OHIO
JUNE 6 to 9. 1938
Source 2-C has itatad that RUDOLPH KOHL, wbo had been
appointed regional director of the C.I.O. lor Hollywood by HASH! BRIDGES*
4 _ Ma A*<Pn*.+ _ +/» huull a +K» art tiuftnn fnvnr-jihl * to t.hm f!onmunlst
1AAVI *>» »W# *—
Party. Source stated that KOHL aade no progress toward winning the etudte
worker* crter to the C.I.O. ; that a few Months before the C.O.M.P.A.C. went
out of existence JEFF KEBKE appeared on the scene. During that tiao KXBHK
of the I.A.T.SJE. and worked about one month in the Property
1 ? . _ .A. _ A. 1 J %^ _ A. **» 9 ««^T^ _ _ _ _ _
Xfl uiuvii awvauviyo oim
ueparwiMiw.
made speeches to the various unions and within about thirty days he emerged
as the adviser to the executive board of Local No. 37, I«A«.T*.3.15» 9 which
local had a membership of approximately 3500.
became the leader and director of what
MWCH
•The I.A.T.S.2. Progressives 11 * Source stated that the tern "Progressiva**
is one that ie used by Cooauniets when working in trade unions to conceal
their real affiliations. KH3HB then used his influence, with the support
of other Communists, to work in the international convention of the I.A.T.S.E.
held in Louisville, Kentucky from June 3 to 6, 1940» Photographic copies of
letters which appeared in the record of the convention proceedings is attached
hereto as Exhibit Ho. 1. These letters show the Communist activity directed
by KIBRE. This exhibit also shows the connection with and instructions from
ROY HUDSON, a member of the Central Executive Comaittee of the Communist Party,
U.S.A., and directing head for all trade union work of the Communist Party In
the United States ♦ (See Exhibit No. 1, Page 8).
Source stated that farther evidence of KXBKE'S connec-
tions with the Central Committee of the Cosnunist Party in New York is -shorn
in KIOSK'S letters to BOB H5SD (Exhibit 1, Pag© 3) in which rEBE^ solicited
the advice of JACK c.VTCHEL, a member of the Central Corriittee of the Commun-
ist tarty, UeSeA.
Source stated that further connections of KIBBS with the
District Committee Ho. 13 of the Communist Party is shown in a copy of a let-
ter to YJALTER IANTER, State Trade Union Director of the Co^iunist Party for
California. (Exhibit No. 1, Page 9).
Further connections of KIBRE with the Communist Party
are shown in the copy of his letter to LOUIS O0LD r iLATT, a member of the Dis-
trict Committee of the Comnunist Party and State Secretary of the C.I.O. at
San Francisco at that ti»e« (Exhibit No. 1, pages k and 5)
-37-
Further connections of EEBRB with Communist Party func-
tionaries are shown in a letter froai 1UC TfEISS, Acting Stata Assistant Secre-
tary of tha Coanuniet Party in Ohio to HOY HUDSON, abova mentioned* (Exhibit
No* 1, pages 7 and 8)
Further evidence of such connections of KIBHS with the
Ccuusiist Party $ U.S.A. is shorn in the affidavit of «ZRA F = CHASE* a member
of the Ccwamist Party in Los Angeles at thai time who stated under oath that
"JEFF KXBRB has been for some years paat a member of tha CoomuixLst Party * • •
and was assigned to "special* work in tha atudio unions* More specifically*
tha I.A.T.S.S. Local No* 37 and to tha organising of special studio units of
the Communist Party of the U.S.A." (Exhibit No* 1, Page 12}
Source 2-C further stated that due to the exposure of the
activities of KIBPJ5 and IIC.TJ P. ffUTSCKEL at tha Cleveland Convention in 1938
when their connections with HARRY BRIDGES were exposed (Exhibit No. 2, Pages
7, 8 and 9} their efforts failed and as a result of this failure the interna*
tional officers of tha I.A.T.S.E.* GEORGE E* BROWNS, President, and YJTLLIAH
BIOFF, BROWNE'S West Coast representative, retained control of the Hollywood .
locals of the I.A.T.S.E. This control exercised by BRD7SIE and BIOFF over the
I*A.T.S.E. locals had beun established on January 2, 1936 when a closed shop
agreement and full recognition of the I./UT.S.E. was entured into by the no-
tion Picture Producers Association and I.A.T.S.'S., which agreement is still
in effect*
At this juncture it must be stated that BR07BC5 and BIOFF
hars been convicted on a charge of extortion at New York City in Federal Court
in which the- charges alleged that they had obtained several hundred thousand
dollars from the motion picture producers under threats of calling strikes*
and are now serving long sentences in Federal prison* and other charges are
still pending against them*
The I.A.T.-.E. as the bar Gaining agency for its members
and the Motion Picture Producers Association maintain the s^me relations as
were set up in 1936*
I.A.T.S.E. LOCALS KOW IH HOLLYiPOD
Source 2~D has informed Agent that immediately following
th* victory of the I»A*.T*G*Z* in the September 20, 1939 election* Local No*
37 was broken up into seven separate locals and local 37 went out of exis-
tence*
Source has further stated that the seven locala which
vara formad from the former aexoberahip of Local 37 arm tha folio wing, givin*
tha approximate membership*
Ko # 1, Affiliated Property Uachiniata Ho. 44; Jtnbarshlp 1,500.
Ho. 2. Motion Picture Studio Grips Ho, 80| rabaraldp 1,700.
Ho. 3. Studio Sat Electricians 728; membership 1,100.
Ho. 4. Studio Projectionists Ho. 16?; membership 500.
Ho. ?• Studio Laborers and Utility Tforkere Ho. 727; membership 1,000.
L t_AJ_A.._ Ua * .^ahWIm ^ nAft
No. 7. Motion Picture Co stumers Ho. 70S; membership 1200.
Source further stated that separate and distinct from Local
No. 37 there are tha following three I.A.T.S.E. locals which had been autoooua
since their formation in 1929 and 1930 and ware nerer at any time a part of
Local No. 37, which was tha first I.A.T.S.E* local in Hollywood, going back to
about 1912. They are the following!
No. 1. International Photographers Local 659; 650 members.
No. 2. Sound Technicians Local Ko. 695; 1,000 members.
No. 3. Laboratory Technicians Local No. 683; 1,350 members.
Ik
Source further 3tated that after the breaking up of Local
"No. 37 I.A.T.S.E. into seven units and tha failure of K1BRE and the Communists
to capture these unions, they switched their tactics and began setting up an
..independent organisation which was to be a bridge over which tha studio work-
ers could cross into the C.1.0. The name of this organization was tha UNITS)
S1UDI0 TECHNICIANS GUILD. (U.S.T.G.)
UNITED STUDIO TECHNICIANS GUIID (U.S.T.C.)
Source 2-E has stated that due to the failure of the Com-
munists to gain control of the tfollyw>od locals of the I.A.T.S.E. by action
of the National Convention at Cleveland, it became necessary to change tactics.
Within sixty daya after the Cleveland Convention, June 6*9, 1938, the Commun-
ists began setting up an organization under the leadership of JEFF KIEHS which
they called the United Studio Technicians Guild. Source stated that although
osr luwui uirvctwj ana pr»c*ic«jLLy controina wie u»3."iv.j. ne aonxoa niemoer-
ship in this organization and throughout the life of this £toup he retained
his membership in Local 37 of the I.A.T.S.E.
Source further stated that the purpose of the U.S.T.G. was
to take in all members of the I.A.T.S.E* locals in Hollywood and have the
U.S.T.C. supplant the I.A.T.S.E., the ultimate object being to affiliate the
U.S.T.G. with the C.I.O. under HTJOT BRIDGES, ource further stated that the
V
*
campaigp began In September 1938* It had the support of all Communist influ-
ence in Southern California* Source stated that the investigation of BROWNE
and BIOFF and the ensuing publicity made it possible for the leaders of the
U.S-T.G. and those who were sympathetic to meet the members of I.A.T.S*E.
locals and point out to them that they were controlled by a "bunch of racke-
teers and gangsters" and that the only way to get honest unionism was to join
the U.S.T„G* Source stated that the organization grew with amazing rapidity
andL within . a period of nine months the membership had reached approximately -
2200. Aside from this there were thousands of others who were sympathetic
but were not members of the I.A.T.S.E. He stated that at this particular
time the U.S*T.C-. was well on the way to taking over the Hollywood union*
and would hare succeeded had it not been that the I.A.T.S.E. had secured and
made public the letters and communications which showed that the U.S.T.G.
was a Communist directed movement, that KIBHE was a member of the Communist
Party, that he was the stooge of HARRY BRIDGES, and that he was taking orders
from the top structure of the Communist Party represented by RDT HUDSON of
the Central Executive Committee of the Conxounist Party, U.S.A. (See exhibits
No. 1 and 2 attached hereto.)
Source stated that further evidence of Communist control
of this group was in the activities of the following individuals who were mem-
bers of the executive board of U.S.T.GUs
SAM OOLDBLATT . Source 2-F stated that GOLDBLATT was a
member of the Laboratory workers at Fox Studios and that he is a member of
the Communist Party; that GOLDBLATT was formerly a member of the Young Con-
munists League; that he made -a trip to the Soviet Union and worked there
for about a year in motion pictures; that he is a close associate of MORVAL
CRUTCHER and works with CRUTCHER; that his father, BORIS GOLDBLATT, was in
Russia with him; that his father was born in Russia; further that his brother
LOUIS GOLDBLATT, the right hand man of HARRY BRIDGES, has a long Communist
Party record under the name of TED MILLER and that LOUIS GOLDBLATT worked with
, JEFF KIBRE in his efforts to capture the studio unions ^l^(Uu)
Sf- : * JOSEPH KRONEBERGER r Source V 2-G has stated that KRONE-
BURGER is a member of the Communist Party under the na*e of JERRY B ROWN;
that he was active in the Motion Picture Democratic Comittee. 'He waTlstso
active in the Laborers Non-Partisan League and Hollywood Anti-Nasi League
and other Communist front organizations (tOj
JUNIUS HIEL50N . Source 2-H has informed that he is well
acquainted with NELSON and that to hie personal knowledge he knows that
NTKTSON was charged with Communist activity in the A.F. of L« union and that
he was expelled from Local No* 724 of the Studio Utility Workers on the charge
that be was active in the Coomunist Party^^\^s^
.0
-40 -
1 a. ' 1 V
» .
I5AD0R BSSB5CK + Source 2-1 hat stated that BE5BSCK m
wll known to him personally and that ha know that BESBBCK Has charged with
Communist activity in Local No. 77 of tha I.A*T»5.K, in the latter part of
Sept«ber, 1939 «d that ha waa expelled trom that union on that charge*
J. Hg UacISAACS» Source 2-J etated that to hLa pereonal
knowledge ha la a member of Hollywood labor anions, that SacISAACS was chargad
with Commlat actirity bafora I*cal No. 37 of tha I.A*T*S*E. and that ha waa
expelled fiom that union in tha latter part of September, 1939 on said charge* -
Sourca 2-K raportad tha following to tha Los Angelas Bu-
reau Of lice: that tha following parties were members of the executive commit- f
tee of tha U.S.T.G. and so far as known were nut Conraunists although they wore
active followers of JSFF TSERA of the Communist Party line*
LOUIS KRIEGEB
GHORGS H* DAVIS
CHARLES G. GUTHKD5
CHARLES. Tf.^BOSS-
HEHiAK LIPNET
IOVJAHD J* H3BE3TS0S, Chainnan of tETC*
Source further stated that about the first of August,
1939 AXES SAUNDERS, who had been tha secretary of tha U.S.T.G, from ita in-
ception, made affidavit relative to tha control of tha U.S.T.G. by HARRT
BRIDGES. This affidavit waa filed with tha Rational Labor Relations Board /* '
of the Los Angeles section and has to do with tha election that waa held on -f- .
September 20, 1939 to determine tha bargaining agency for the U.S.T.G. elec-
tion. Source stated that it was shown that ha was a Canadian and that he
later returned to Canada and in June, 1940 ha was reported as being in tha
Canadian Amy. Source stated further that his picture appe?xed with HA] JET {
BRIDGE: in some paper at the time* The paper is not known but it probably *
wis the "People's Fforld*^
EDVARD HCT*I . Source 2-L tea stated that KHH was a a<
bar of Local 37 of the I.A.T.S*^. and that he succeeded SAIJNDI313 and was made
"office manager* • Sourca further stated that H5I2J remained in that position
for a period of two weeks only, at which time ha resigned and made an affidavit,
tha meatier part of which is as follows z
"During the two weeks I worked there I became convinced
of the .fact that the U.S.T.G. waa not a true democratic union organised
by and for tha beat interests of ita Mmbere, but on tha contrary was
dominated £r*d controlled by CHARLES J« KATZ, an attorney, and JZFF KIB* 5 ^
both non-members of the 17«S.T«G«, and by SMI OOLDBLATT and a few
sonally interested other parties whom I do not know* 11
3
jjeNffn&uiAf
Source stated that the above affidavit was signed August
2U, 1939 before MILTON TAYLOR, a notary public.
Source further stated that HEIN testified before the
TEWNET Investigating Committee that the office was deluged with Communist
propaganda such as the "People's World" and Communist inspired leaflets*
Source further stated that at a hearing of the JACK
TSNNET Committee, K2IN testified that during his term as office manager of
the 0 the office was deluged with Ccuanunist pamphlets, leaflets,
magazines and newspapers and in his opinion the organization was under the
control of the Communists (The Coomunist connection of JEFF KIBRE has been
set out above).
Source stated with respect to CHARLES J# KATZ that he
is one of the attorneys for the Communist Party and one of the attorneys for
UADDV LOTn^TC* +Kn+ ke m P^^-mm. W 1 <n» o o m ^ « +■ *A 4>U TTTi PUTT A PUPD 1 A «*4-t «s *•
Communist Party attorney; that KATZ is also a mmber of the National Lawyers
Guild, the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League, the League for Peace and Democracy,
the Motion Picture Cooperative Buyers Guild, the North American Committee
to Aid Spanish Democracy, the Motion Picture Democratic Committee, the Nar~
tional Federation for Constitutional Liberties, and others ♦ Source further
stated that the exposure of the above mentioned facts turned the tide away
from Communist influence and the great majority of members of the U.3-T»G-
recognized it as a Communist controlled union and would have nothing further
to do with it-
Source further stated that the U-S.T.G, before the com-
munications above mentioned were published, feeling that the situation was
well in hand had already called for a National Labor Relations Board elec-
tion* He stated that the election was held on Septaaber 20, 1939 and un-
doubtedly because of the exposure of Communist influence over the U.S-TeG»
it lost the election by a two to one vote* He further stated that if the
UeSeT.G. had been successful in this election it would have meant that
eventually the Cel.O. would have gain erif control of all of the labor unions
IK Hollywod and of the entire motion picture and theatrical business be-
cause he stated that the I.A.T.S.3. is the key union organization in this
industry, that the I.A-T-S.E. is still an international group of unions
within the A.F. of L. and has approximately 80,000 members in the United
States and Canada-
Source further stated that JEFF KXBHE, having been ex-
posed a second time as working in the interests of the Communist Party, re-
signed as adviser to the executive board of Local No- 37, I.A-T-S.E- in
Hollywood and left that field. He stated that the next that he heard of
fornia in June, 1941* Ha further stated that he is Informed jfoat ^ 3& / ^ft|^
►
the present time is the international representative of the Fishermen^
Union - C.I.O. on the Pacific Coast*
Source farther stated that the Communists, having failed
to capture the Hollywood local of the I.A.T.S.S* by the device of setting up
the U.S.T.G. as a separate union, they went back into their own various locals
apparg rvtly as good m embers « He stated that there were a few expulsions by
the. LA.T.S.E* of some of the leaders of. the U.S.T*G«, but these were few* He
stated that the great majority were taken back into the various unions and
that the past was forgotten*
STUDIO PAINTERS LOCAL NO* 644
^Source 2-U has reported] that Local 644 of the Studio
Painters gained a foothold in the studios in the early twenties* Source
stated that this union had a precarious existence from its inception until
about 1933 when as a result of a strike in that year its membership followed
the other studio workers in desertion of the A.F. of L#
Source further stated that rtien the M.P»tf,I,U» was formed
in 1934, which organization as we have seen above was the first Communist con-
trolled union in the studios, it laid the foundation for the Communist activity
which followed* Source stated that the Painters came into the SLPJJLI.U. in
large numbers; that RUDOLF W. KOHL who was not a member of the Communist Party
" ■ — ' ■ — ' " . . - — . . - maw 4 4 imiw mi w»*w yvmimi i to w v 4 w»* J
instituted a membership drive among the Painters and drew into the M.P.W«I#U.
several hundred of tte painters • Source further stated that while they were
members 0 f this union over a period of about a ye*r, many of then became tho-
roughly indoctrinated with Communist ideas
Source further stated that when the Conunist Party line
was changed in the spring of 1935 and the independent unions, of rtiich the
JLP JT.I.U. was one, were to be liquidated, RUDOLPH W. KOHL left the M«P,W*I.U«
J >ihd influenced all painters to do likewise*
Source stated that as a consequence of this order the
painters went over into Local 644 almost in a body* He further stated that
about this time the following incident occurred* KOHL recruited about 120
members into the U,P # W 9 I,U, in a period of about ten days; that within one
week after he had done this he received orders from GEORGE UAUKER, in charge
of the Labor Commission of the Communist Party in the Lot Angeles Section,
that the Party line had been changed and informed them that he had been ad-
vised that he must not recruit any more members of M#P«rT. I ,U. but that he
«it ± 4 — W A ^V_ J 1U. A T9 ^ + T -1 1 J it ±. ± — —
-43 -
ft
KOHL by this tiae baring become a good Communist Party member, promptly obeyed;
that he went over to the Studio Painters Local No. 644, leaving the other
painters behind in the M.P.W.I.U. Source stated that this caused a lot of
confusion but eventually KOHL convinced then that his leaving then temporarily
was for the best interests of the workers and after a short period he succeeded
in justifying his action by getting them over on his side ageing (U-J
_ Source stated that KOHL, who was recognized as a sort of
leaaer among hie group, began actively working to build up local 644; that
he succeeded and shortly thereafter he was elected Business Representative of
that union and held the position for several years. Source further stated
that during this time due to KOHL 1 3 influence this union became the leading
Communist dominated group in the Hollywood studios. He further stated that
it has continued to be controlled by the Communist elements up to the present
tine. Source further stated that KOHL continued to be the leader of this
union until the painters strike in 1936 at which time HERBERT K« SQRRZLLby
taking an extremely active part in the strike, emerged as the strong figure
in that union. Source further stated that iiul#3?~seHR2LL supplanted KOHL
in the leadership of this union ^Sq \ ^uJ)
Source stated that KOHL in the fall of 1937 was appointed
by HARRY BRIDGES as regional director for the C.I.O. in the Hollywood studios.
He stated that his efforts in that capacity failed and the C.I.O. attempt
failed so KOHL went back to work in the studios as a painter and KOHL was suc-
ceeded by JEFF KZBRS and the U.S.T.G. i<n the next attempt of the Communist
Party to take over as her ef ore related
HgiBStfT K. .^nrowTT.
Source 2-N has informed the Los Angeles Bureau Office
that SORRELL having supplanted KOHL as the leader of Painters 644 and aa this
union was spearhead of Cootounist penetration, having been developed out of
^ the M.P.W.I.U., he, SORRELL, became the* leader of the Communist factions in
^tfee Hollywood unions .l^ n iJ\
Source stated that while SORRELL was exercising this au-
thority the Motion Picture Producers Association (U.P.P.A.) represented by
their labor committee man, PAT CASH, saw in SOHRSLL and his leadership an
opportunity to develop another labor structure within the A.F# of L. which
would contest the power and authority of the I.A.T.S.E. as the I.A.T.S.E.
still under the same leadership of BROWNE and BIOFF.
-44 -
Source further stated that CASE! favored SORRELL in all
negotiations regarding labor to such an extent that SORRELL could get almost
anything he wanted from the M.P.P.A* Source stated that in these negotia-
tions SOHRELL went outside the jurisdiction of his owi union and managed to
secure representations from othsr unions and secured with the help of CASET
wages and working conditions that the regular business representatives of
those unions could not secure for theoaelvee#
Source stated that as a result of these favors at the
hands of CAS3T and the combined efforts of Communist sympathizers, SORRELL
soon emerged as a leader of certain unions mentioned heretofore which leaned
toward the Communist position*
Source further stated that the build-up of SORRELL at
one time reached the stage where CASET proposed to E. J* MANNH, an executive
of M.P.P.A* that SORRELL be set up as the labor cxar in Hollywood to handle
for the unions all their affairs* Source stated that CASEY had made the
statement that SORRELL "was easy to do business with and better results could
be obtained under such an arrangement • " However this suggested arrangement
was turned down by Mr* MANNH and LOUIS B* UATSR, executives of the M.P.P.A.
This was in the spring of 1941*
Source further stated that SORRELL was working at this
time in conjunction with the Communist Party is borne out by his testimony
before the investigating committee of the State Legislature in t*s
Angeles when SORRELL stated that JACK MOORS, Secretary of the Communist
Party in Los Angeles County, was in the habit of calling upon him in the
union office and giving him directions for his union activities*
Source further stated that SORRELL having developed as
a leader of those locals which had strong Coomuniat fractions in them f the
next move was to set up an organization which would tie all of these locals
into one body under the domination of SORRELL* In fall of 1941 the Confeiv
^ ence of Studio Unions was formed* _ ^ ~~ zl -~
V
CONFERENCE OF STUDIO UNIONS
Source 2-0 has stated that this so-called [^Conference of
Studio Unions* is a small, compact group of delegates or representatives of
a bloc of labor unions in the Hollywood motion picture industry which has
been taken over and is now under control of the Communist Party operating
through its members in those unions which have captured key position<V)p^)
In reality this "Conference of Studio Unions* is ^
organization set up in the Hollywood studio labor groups to rftftiSiblttSQEF ^
trol and steering committee to coordinate and direct Comm
( ;
- k
activities looking toward the taking over of all studio workers and their
j — ^ _ j.^ x u ^ nr.w^**> *■ T+ •? • f Ka A«*eran^ »aH nn nnnn
the Coomunist Party relies for eventual complete domination of notion pic-
ture workere^J^^^
The unions which have already been taken over and which
ar^under Coomunist influence and which are represented by this conference
ares
(1) STUDIO PAINTER, LOCAL 644 of the International Brotherhood of
Painters, Decorators and Paperhnagers of America*
(2} Laboratory Technicians , Local 683, of the International Alliance
of Theatrical Stage Employees.
(3) S CREEK OFFICE EMPLOYEES GUILD, an affiliate of Studio Painters,
Local 644, above*
(4) SCREEN CARTOONISTS GUILD, an affiliate of Studio Painters, Local
644, above *
(5) SCREZK SET DESIGNERS GUILD, an affiliate of Studio Painters,
Local 644, above ♦
(6) STUDIO MACHINISTS, LOCAL 1185 of the International Association
of Machinists*
/ All of the unions above named are affiliated through
I their international and national bodies with the American Federation of
I Labor* Each affiliated union must pay a per capita tax of five cents*
^ The membership of above groups is approximately eight
thousand (8000)*
j The Conference of Studio Unions was set up at a sped-
I ally called meeting of the Studio Painters Union on November 2, 1941*
i
The organization is gpverned by a President, Chairman*
Vice-Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer. Each union body affiliated is repre-
■ anf*/4 Vvtr nn+ nwM*A f Hon thl*A* ri«l Afffl^i _ QHfi of whflffl must Hll thft bllslnaSS
HERBERT K. SORRELL is president of the Conference of j
representative * j
Studio Unions* He is also business representative of Studio Painters, Local
644*
- 46 -
\ —
Treasurer of Laboratory Technicians, Local 683 •
D. T. WAYNE is Vice-Chainaan. He lm also business repre-
sentative of Studio Machinists, local U£5»
ynRCTTI L* MCKNIGHT is Secretary-Treasurer* He is also
President of Laboratory Technicians, Local 683 sod Editor of "FLASHES*, thef
official publication of Local 683*
Other delegates or representatives composing the Confer-
ence are:
JOHN R. UARTIN, business representative of Laboratory Technicians,
Local 683*
GLENN PRATT, business representative of Screen Office Employees
Guild*
WIIX1AM FOMERANCS, ^tjni n««* ranresentativa of Screen nArtooTvlsta
Guild.
ED MlkiiA, bu3ln*33 representutiva of Screen Set Designers' Guild.
_ BERNARD LUSHER, Secretary Screen Office Employee* Guild*
BLANCHE 0012, Screen Office Bnployees Guild.
DAVE HUBEBMAN, Vice-President Screen Cartoonists Guild.
SD H. GILBKI.T, Screen Set Designers Guild.
CARL HEAD, Studio Painters, Local 644.
Y.TLLIAM BALL, Studio Painters, Local 644.
JOSSFH STERNAD, President Screen Set Designers Guild.
fmunf V PflTVTW . n w\ . fH maIt. boa > K. ttiniviAir fnv Mia
organization* (He has been appointed to the 1?ar
Manpower Cocnission for this district}*
IAUX3 R. STEIN, has taken the place of BODUS as attorney for the
conference*
Cnhile the stated object of this "conference* is "To
brine about joint economical action and closer unity of the unions to protect ^
r r
- 47 -
individual autonomy of the crafts," the real purpose la to act as a closely
knit governing body secretly coordinating the activities of the member unions
with the "party line" of the Communist Party* J(^j (u.J
The group acts, in reality, as a "top fraction" of the
Coiamunist Party to interpret the line and guide all activities in the direc-
tion of the political position of that party
The actions, resolutions and recommendations of the or-
ganization coincide with the line of the Communist Party in detail.
It has passed resolutions and sent copies to the Presi-
dent of the United States demanding a second front at once*
It has passed resolutions demanding the immediate inde-
pendence of India*
It has passed resolutions protesting the deportation of
HARRY BRIDGES, and has sponsored and circulated pamphlets to this effect #
It has passed resoluationSj and put out to the public,
pamphlets on the negro question identical with the present program of the
Communist Party on that issue*
It is an integral part of Labor's Unity for Victory Com-
mittee, a Communist inspired group#
It is affiliated with, and has supported financially,
the United Citizens for Victory Committee, also a Communist inspired group*
It is a sponsor for the War Symphony Committee, a recent
Communist front organization in Southern California*
It passed resolutions demanding the release of EARL
BRQWDER when he was imprisoned in Atlanta prison*
It sponsored the "Open Letter to the American People",
written by D ALTON TKUKBO*
1 A. _ _ A .3 _ . _ _ J A
ims comerence ana we group 01 unions represent*
are recognized by the responsible A.F. of L* leaders in Hollywood as consti-
tuting the Communist "Bloc 19 , and as the wedge being driven by the Communist
Party into all labor organizations in the motion picture industry with the
ultimate objective of taking over control of all workers in the in<
4
J
•4
HERBERT K. SOHRSLL, the president of the organization,
member of the Party* At a meeting of the . T3KNET Committee of the State of
California investigating subversive activities, his connections with the
party were proven* 'Then shown documentary proof of his attendance at a con-
vention of the Los Angeles section of the Communist Party, he admitted that
he had attended , but stated that "he did not know it was a Communist conven-
tion^" ~
At the same inquiry he admitted his connections with
JACK LfOOREj the local Secretary of the Communist Party at that time*
SORRSLL is business representative of Studio Painters,
Local 644* This union is one of the first organizations in the labor field
in Hollywood to go over to Communist control* The control of this union
since 1935 has been by members who were active in the Motion Picture Workers
Industrial Union in 1934* This latter group was completely Communist domina-
ted ♦ Its attempt to take over the Hollywood studio workers failed*
NORVAL D. CRUTCKER, the Secretary of Laboratory Technic
Ok WVWIUI
munist circles since 1934*
D. T« 7JAYNE, business representative of the Studio Ma-
chinists is a close fellow traveller of the Communist Party line and a
satellite of SORHELL* This union is virtually an outgrowth of the Motion
Picture Workers Industrial Union*
RUSSELL L* MCKNIGHT* Secretary-Treasurer of the confer-
ence, is president of Laboratory Technicians, Local 683* and the Editor of
"FLASHES 19 , the official publication of that union. This publication follows
the Communist Party line; was isolationist before Russia was attacked, and
violently patriotic immediately after • It quotes extensively from "IN FACT"*
jjk Communist publication, and the magazine "FRIDAY" (now defunct)* It has
^Hprinted articles from many other Connulhist publications; has run articles
by known Communists and fellow travellers such as LAL SDfGH * CAREY" MCWILLIAIC,
SAM KALISH, DR. HERBERT B. ALEXANDER, OORCS SSLDSS, SAM GOLDBLATT* and
others*
Other delegates making up the conference who an commun-
ists and fellow travellers arei
JOHN R. liAHTIN, business representative of Laboratory- Technicians, r
Local 683* J?
-49-
r «
GLENN PRATT, buainese representative of the Screen Office Sinployel
Guild*
BERNARD LUSHER, Secretary Screen Office Baployees Guild*
WHXIAU POMERANCE, business representative of Screen Cartoonist*
Guild, and ex^ field representative of the local Labor
Relations Board*
DATE KUBSHJttN, Vice-President of Screen Cartoonists. Guild*
ED U* "rTLHKHT ; a member of the Communist Party of long standing*
ED MUSSA, business representative of the Screen Set Designers
Guild*
GEORGE E. BODLE, the attorney for the conference has been involved
in Ccraunist activities for years* His position is well known*
While the Conference of Studio Unions ostensibly operates
in the union field, it is part of an interlocking combination of all Cocmun-
ist front organizations in Hollywood, of which there are acne thirty or more*
Its specific duties are, however, to work in the trade
union field and act as a liaison between the Communist Party and Hollywood
Studio Unions*
r
/Source 2-0 has atatedjthat the local union from which
all of this activity originally started was Studio Painters Local No* 644*
the history of which has heretofore been given* As stated it received ite
impetus for Communist activity from the M.P.W.I.U*
[Source 2-0 has statedUtLt Ihe other unions forming
this conference are the following! ~Z. \ tj^J
LABORATORY TECHNICIANS #683* /source 2-P has statedj//
that this union is a local and a part of the i*A*f*S*E** that it was or-
ganized and granted a charter by the I.A«T.S,E* in 1929* He further stated
that it has functioned as a regular and conservative local until 1941} that
its membership is composed of workers who develop and process the film for
motion pictures* He further stated that the department over which this
local union has jurisdiction and control of the workers is one bottleneck
which could disrupt the entire industry under a given set of conditions*
He stated that the tremendous expense of producing a picture is finally re- (y^lk
duced to an image on a narrow strip of film 33 am in width* He stated that ~J
this narrow strip of film, which represents the entire efforts of the indus-
try, must be processed, much of it in a dark room in this ddptrtmemt*
this departrasnt the product than spreads out fanwise throughout the world.
" --------- - -- -- -«r ----- ---- — - — - — •-- --
the Cccmuniats that if they could succeed in getting control of the writers
in this department the industry would be at their mercy. Source stated that
the Communists and fellow travellers working in this union since 1936 utili-
zing their usual tactics of slander, false rumors and finally accusations
that the regularly elected officers were secretly conniving with BR07JNE and
BIOFF,~ they finally succeeded in 1941 in causing anti-Communist officers of
the union to resign in disgust and the Communist element in the union took
over control which they now exercise* He further stated that this union has
followed the Communist Party line from isolation to the present war; has
passed all resolutions identical with those of the Communist program and is
affiliated with Hollywood Writers Mobilization for Defense, Labors Unity
for Victory Committee and has issued pamphlets protesting the proceedings of
deportation of HARHT BRIDGES; resolutions advocating a second front has been
adopted; the independence of India has been urged and resolutions on the
negro question ; was sponsor for the War Symphony Committee; works in connec-
tion with the League of American Writers, and supports every phase of Commun-
ist front acUvitj^S^^
Source further stated that the officers of this union,
#683, I.A.T.S.E., are the following!
RUSSELL L. McKNIGHT, President* He is editor of
"Flashes", the official paper of the union.
MELVIN G. YOUNG - Vice-President.
PAUL JAFFE - Recording Secretary.
NOHVAL CSUTCHER - Secretary-Treasurer.
JCHJtlU 2IARTIN - Business Representative.
CHARLES GHEENBERG - Sergeantr-at-arms.
^ RALPH BLANCHAHD - Member of the Executive Board.
FRANK REGAL - Member of the Executive Board.
ARTHUR LEV52JHAGEN - Member of the Executive Board.
DOROTHY ALEXANDER - Member of the Executive Board.
GEORGE SHAW - Member of the Executive Board*
THSODORS FOGKUfAH - Member of the Executive Board,
SAMUEL HORN - Member of the Executive Board.
Source 2~P has stated that everyone of the persons named
above* with the exception of CHARLES GKEENBERG* is either a Communist Party
member of a fellow traveller* They all follow the same line in its devious
.changes. Source further stated that previous to this time this union an-
nounced in its official publication. "Flashes 11 , that the war was one of im-
perialism, made no appeals for national defense, ridiculed the passage of
the Selective Service Act, and supported the general isolationist policy of
the Communist Party at that time^X^^
e*%.»*»*M rrCn . »U^m» AAA 4-K a*« 4* A**±m nA#t
quote from such Communist publications as "In Fact" and "Friday*, and
prints in substance articles appearing in the "People 1 s World", the official
publication of the Communist Party on the Pacific coast* Source further
stated that it has invited to* speak before its membership such well known
Communist Party member* and fellow travellers as:
CARET Uc«HLUOS
SAM KALISH
DR. HEB2RT B. ALEXANDER
D ALTON THUMBO
Source further stated that since HITLER'S attack on
STALIN this union has completely reversed its political viewpoint and la
nm* «11 «~i «% « «*a*A*4 * U m 4- 4 + K** nn - - -**4 .»*4 —
uvn »4* w mn »*m» *f«« « t^wu w« tMaw»« vuew aw um uw^oh ivswiuui^ut
demanding a second front, independence for India, protested the deporta-
tion of HARRY BRIDGES, and issued pamphlets to that effect, and follows
implicitly every detail of the Communist Party demands*
» "*
SCHEEM OFFICE atPIOYKSS GUILD . , »
£&ource 2-Q has stat^^t^this union was originally or-
ganized as an independent group In aboufl937. He stated that after being
in existence som* three or four years it came under the influence of HERBERT
K. SORRSLL and the Communist elements within It and in 1941 it was issued a
charter by Local 6i+U$ A.F. of L* Studio Painters f and is now affiliated
through Local 644 with the International Brotherhood of Painters, Paperhangers
(Source further stated that this union has jurisdiction
over all clerical workers and secretaries in the Hollywood studios, although
the A.F. of L. has a regular established office workers union in the Los
Angeles area where these workers rightfully belong. Th^s group has affili-
ated itself with the International Painters organization. The reason tor
this odd combination is the preference for the Communist leadership of SOR-
KELL over affiliation with regular A.F. of L. Office Workers Union* ]
jfSource 2-Q has statedjthat the following are the officers
of this union:
UARGAHET B3INET - President
BLANCHE COLE - Recording Secretary
BERNARD LUSHER - Financial Secretary
CLAIRE HARGAN - Treasurer
JACK REID - Warden ^
BARBARA ALEXANDER - Conductor
GLENN PRATT - Business Representative
Source further stated that the officers named constitute
the executive board* He further stated that the officers of this union and
the union as a body follows the Communist Party line and in so doing has
passed the same resolutions and engaged in jthe same activities mentioned
above, regarding Local 683* Source further stated that GL2WN PRATT, the bus-
iness agent of this union, has recently entered the Officers Training School
of the Amy and ED M. GILBERT of the Screen Set Designers Union has been
elected to take PRATT'S place as the business agent of this union* GILBERT
is a member of the Communist Party.
he busin
SCREEN CARTOONISTS GUILD LOCAL H0» 852
{Source 2-R has informed^ that this guild has jurisdic-
tion over cartoonists, sketch artists, antfanimatora engaged in makiAK.ani^j
mated cartoons in the motion picture industry* ^Source 2-R has statedpkat^
this guild was organized about 1939 originally as an independent group* He
further stated that in 1941 the guild succumbed to the influence of SORRELL
and was issued a charter by Local 6/+4, Studio Painters, and therefore is now
affiliated with the International Association of Painters, Paperhangere and
Decorators of America*
Source stated that thia affiliation of the cartoonist*
with the pain tew and paperhangers was brought about by the help which SORRELL
rendered to this guild in getting better working conditions and wagea and
which help waa made possible by the favorite! am shown SORRELL by PAT CASE!,
was an important factor in winning the confidence of thia guild by SORRELL*
Source further stated that thia same process waa employed
by SORRELL in all the other unions and guilds which were members of the Con--,
ference of Studio Unions*
following:
[Source 2-R stated [that the officers of this guild are the
JACK ZANDER - President
DAVE HUBEHUAN - Vice-President
ERIC LARSEN - Treasurer
PEPS RUIZ - Financial Secretary
AL ARMATUZIO - Warden
A* C« CA1XER - Conductor
WILLIAM POMERANCE - Busipe^s representative
/Source 2-R has statedjthat the officers of thia guild
and the guild as a body follows the Communist Party line and in so doing has
passed the sate resolutions and engaged in the same activity mentioned above
regarding Local 683 •
SCREEN SST DSSK3JERS GUHP
over set designers, draftsmen, and illustrators, that the workers compoeing
these crafts over a period of years have had various organizations, none of
which wen successful* Source stated that at one time they were classed aa
scenic artists and formed a union on that basis but it soon went out of a**
istence* Source further stated that further attempts were made which like-
wise failed* He also stated that it waa not until 1939 that they foraed a
stable organization* Source further stated that in the fall of 1941 thia or-
ganization affiliated with Painters Union Local No, 644, thus coming under C\
the influence of HERBERT K* SORRELL and this Painters Union No, 644 ifcich \fky
bad been dominated by Comniat influence since 1935 aa h^a heretofore been
shown « 0
r w
Source further stated that the membership of this guild
ie limited, being only approximately 300 members. He stated that as a con-
sequence this guild (fees not hare the usual number of paid officials , He
stated that the business of this guild is transacted at the office of its
attorney, GEORGE E. BODLE, 608 South Hill Street, downtown Los Angeles; how-
1 A i^/Wl/i^J-l
Comnission on the Pacific coast in charge of Southern California district,
this guild is now located at 9441 V&lshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, tele-
phone CRestview 1-4051*
^Source 2-S has state^^at^the present officials of this
organisation are the following!
JOSEPH STEPJ1AD - President
ED MUSSA - Business representative
t^y.TR THOMAS - Executive board member
LEW OOUID - Executive board member
ART LONERQAN - Executive board meaber
FRITZ WILLIS - Executive board member
ED H. GILBERT - Executive board member
Source further stated that the officers and executive
board members above named handle all of the affairs of this guild and the
general membership does not even have a vote in the affairs of the guild*
Source further stated that the officers of this guild
and the guild as a whole follow the Caaaunist Party line and in so doing
^vf^have passed the same resolutions and- engaged in the same activities men-
tioned above regarding Local 683# »
of
Source 2-S has stated that/ the officers named ED U«
GILBERT is known to be a member of the Communist Party and has been to the
knowledge of source a member of the party since 1933 • Source has stated
that in 1934 and 1935 GILBERT was a member of the executive board of the
HPVflU mentioned above* He further stated that in 1935 GILBERT was made
chairman of the top fraction of the Communist Party in t he Hollywood studio
units, being appointed to that position by G50RO HADHSR who was in charge t <^
of the Labor Commission of the Communist Party of sauthern California^ )Q^/
- 55 -
■)
f
STUDIO MACHINISTS LOCAL M 0. 1185 (S.U.L.)
LSource 2-T has inforaedjthat the Studio Machinist* Local
No* 118$ id* as are ail of the other locale that make up the Conference of
Studio Unions , a unit of the international group affiliated with A.F. of L*
He further stated that this local is one of the unions of the International
Association of Machinists*
tnat workers who belong
^Source 2-T has further stated
to this union are highly skilled mechanics engaged mostly in building and
servicing motion picture cameras and other high precision work of like char-
acter*
Source further stated that this union came into exist-
ence as an outgrowth of the M«i\W,I*U. heretofore mentioned; that in 1934
and 1935 the majority of the machinists in the Hollyirood studios were mem-
bers of this Communist dominated M.P.7M.U* Source has stated that it had
taken in the entire crew of machinists then engaged in the experimental
plant of Technicolor Corporation; that it had also taken in all of those
workers employed in the Mitchell Camera Company, the largest manufacturer
of motion picture cameras in the United States. Source has further stated
that while this plant was not a part of the motion picture studies proper,
its products were used solely in the production of motion pictures* He has
further stated that this union also had taken into its ranks a large per-
centage of skilled mechanics in the studios proper*
Source -further stated that the Communist program and
party line at that time was accepted by the machinists members of that un-
ion almost wholeheartedly* He further stated that the leaders of this
group and the individual to whom the machinists group within the union
looked to for leadership was WILFRED If* LYON* who ie referred to abort as
President of the M.P.W.I.U* and who later made a trip to Soviet Russia to
work in the motion picture industry there and who was selected by the dele-
gates from the Soviet Union in 1936 to go to Russia for that purpose*
Source further stated that when the Communist Party
line changed in the fall of 1935 and all Coununiets were instructed to Join
the A*F. of L* unions* this group of machinists left the U«P*W.I*U* and
applied for a charter from the International Association of Machinists, an
international affiliated with the A.F. of L* Source stated that a charter
was granted and about 1937 this local No* 118$ was created in Hollywood*
(Source 2-T further statedVthat the union followed the
usual procedure of new unions in building up its membership; that at the
same time Communist influence was at work in the union and by the summer
f
of 19 41 this union under the leadership of its business representative f T.
Studio Unions, dominated as above stated by HERBERT K. SOHHELL* Source fur-
ther stated that the original meeting called to set up the Conference of
Studio Unions was authorized officially by this Local 1135 and Local 644 of
the Studio Painters* He further stated that at this meeting SOHRELL and
D. WAYNE represented their respective unions as the original base for
this conference*
Source further stated that this union No* 1185 is repre-
sented in all of its transactions by this business representative, D. T #
V/AYNE* No other officer appears in any negotiations for the union or appar-
ently take part in any of its political activity* He stated that WAYNE is
the Vice-Fresident of the Conference of Studio Unions ♦
^Source 2-T stated}that this union acting through its
spokesman, D. T. 17AYNE, has affiliated with the same organizations and pursued
the identical line as has Local 644 Studio Painters* He has stated that Mr*
WAYNE is completely under the domination of HERBERT K. SOERELL*
£Source 2*T has further stated^ that this union has fol-
lowed the same procedure as to resolutions and protests as has Local 633
Laboratory Technicians mentioned above. He has stated the union follows
the Communist Party line as an integral part of the Conference of Studio
Unions*
Source 2-T has stated that this Conference of Studio
Unions is the group of A.F. "of L* unions which has penetrated the Studio
Union A.F. of L* structure and planted the Communist Party line by boring
from within, which has been the tactics used for twenty years by the Com-
munist Party and practiced in the earlier days by WILLIAM Z. FOSTER who
from 1920 to 1928 was the secret agent of the Communist Party, U*S*A« in
charge of organized labor activities, during which time he denied he was
a Communist and posed as a legitimate. labor leader *\/(l0
[Source 2-T has stated} that* it was not to be implied
that this Conference of Studio unions controls the majority of A.F. of L«
workers in the studios* There are many other A*F* of L* locals not Com-
munist controlled, but this ^nVP group composing this Conference are
more or less key unions* He further stated that they have the backing of
the entire Communist structure and the sympathy of the large number of
fellow travellers in the cultural group, and due to this fact they possess
strength out of all proportion to the number of locals and membership* .
[Source 2-T has further stated that the publication in
which the affairs of this Conference of Studio Unions are handled is the
monthly paper "Flashes", issued by Local 683 of the T abofot#rr TMhlll^ *****
40 *
Source has also stated that this union uses the daily
"Variety", a trade paper which is extremely partial to the activities of this
conference aai to HERBERT K. SORHELL. This source further stated that RALPH
RODDY, who is in charge of labor dues for "Variety", apparently is a fellow
traveller and follows the party line. These newspapers will be treated under
separate headings*
■ HOLLYWOOD GUIID COUNCIL
(Source 2-U has re portent that the [guilds making up the
Hollywood Guild Council are the bargaining agencies for what is known as
"the cultural groups, writers, artists, directors, readers and publicists."
These guilds although not afliliated with A.F. of L. or any other labor
group are the bargaining agencies for their members* It should be noted
that as in the case of writers, directors and art directors, the matter of
tiations deal with such matters as working conditions, screen credits,
?PRKS FDR THE FORMATION OF THE HDLLY7PQD GUIII) COUNCIL
Source 2-U has further stated that after the defeat of
the Communist controlled United Studio Technicians Guild (U.S.T.G.)/tne Na-
tional labor Halations Boaro election held on September 20, 1939 as above re-
lated* fthe Communist elements not being able to function within the I.A.T.S.E,
proceeded to set up another organisation outside the A.F* of L# As a base
for their operations they created another organization rt The Hollywood Guild
Council*. This council was composed of representatives or tolerates from what
is called n the cultural groups". They are the followingQt/^>J
Guild Approximate membership
in 19U
Screen Directors Guild 350
♦ -1 _i
screen neaaers uuixa tyj
Screen Publicists Guild 200
Screen Set Designers Guild 350
' Screen Office Saployees Guild 900
v Screen Cartoonists Guild
Total 4.000
/Yin v >
r
sdY&at
[source 2-0 further stated^that the Hollywood Guild Council
was set up in the fall of 1939 > shortly after the U*S.T,G. was dissolved; that
when this guild council was organised the Screen Set Designers Guild, Screen
Office 3nployeea Guild, and Screen Cartoonists Guild, were not affiliated with
the A#P. of L. This affiliation was not made until the fall of 1941* The
others never were affiliated with the A.F* of L*
- - - Source further stated that the [purpose of this Hollywood
Guild Council was to afford a base of operations to carry on Communist propa-
ganda and keep alive the attempt to penetrate the other unions* They attempted
to draw into the council many of the A.F. of L. locals but were not successful*
The activities were confined to these various guilds which had always been more
or less subject to Communist infiltration *£^j
Source further stated that {the leading group and the one
which practically controlled the Hollywood Guild Council was the Screen Writers
Guild* j All of the activities of this council had their origin in the Screen
Writers Guild* The officers and leading figures in the Screen Writers Guild
are almost all members of the League of American miters* This League of
American Writers has been in control of the Screen Writers Guild for many years
and has succeeded during that time in having its niesbers placed in key posi-
tions in this guild*
The political viewpoint of the league of American Writers
has dominated the Screen Writers Guild completely. The other guilds mentioned
never played a great part in the HoUjrood Guild Council for the reason that
they were not so easily organised* To a large extent they lent their names
and appointed delegates to the council* It might be said that they "trailed
Source 2-U further statedjthat the activities of the
Hollywood Guild Council extended from the fall of 1939 to June 22, 19U, at
which time HITLER invaded Russia, which automatically ended the HITLSR-STALHf
jpjict* He stated that this period was one in which the line of the Communist
Pitfty was isolationist and anti-war and anti-prepAration for defense* He fur-
ther stated that the Hollywood Guild Council during this period fell into line
with that position* However it accomplished very little, being overly consci-
entious in its activities*
ijw«t4w* iiurwre*- 9w»wu uiiav xauMuxa wfjiy alter wie xuvaau.ua
of Russia this council had no further place as a propaganda group inasmuch as
the majority of the representation of the guilds were writers, directors, art-
ists, etc* They transferred their activities from a position of isolation to
one of violent patriotism* He further stated that after the change in the Com-* J
munist Party line caused by the invasion of Russia was made cie^r, whi cfeAert tf?^
approximately three to four weeks, the directing heads of tHe fioild -
- 59 -
began an intensive campaign in support of the war. They transferred their
activities to other fields, the principal one of which became the Hollywood
Writers Mobilization for Defense ♦
Source further stated that the Hollywood Guild Council
did not go to other organizations as a body but the individual members went
as individuals and joined and supported such organizations as the Writers
Mobilization for Defense, The Citizens Unity for Victory Committee, Laborers
Unity for Victory Committee, The Committee for the Care of Children in Wartime,
the United Russian Relief, Committee for Medical Aid to Soviet Russia, American-
Russian Council for Friendly Relations, The Hollywood Canteen, Victory Bond
Drive, and many other forms of war activity*
Source stated that as a result of this transfer of activi-
ties to these other groups by the leaders of the council, it became inactive
and at the present time it remains as a mere name only*
Source further stated that so far as it has been possible
to ascertain th«Hollywood Guild Council did not make public the names of the
individuals who ^fere its leaders and directors* The council never took direct
action as a body but it acted as a sort of steering committee or advisory
club for the various guilds that made up the council^ source stated that the
following persons were the most active in the affairs of the Hollywood Guild
Council:
3HS3UDAH G:
- President, Screen "frit era Guild, 1941.
✓ ROBERT HOSSEN - Secretary, Screen Writers Guild, 1941*
"TESTER COLE - Treasurer, Scrsen Vfriters Guild, 1941.
HARY McCALL, JR.- Member Screen Writers Guild, 1941*
' JOHN HOWARD UXON-Member of Screen Writers Guild, 194U
JEROME CHODOROV - Member of Screen Writers Guild, 1941. ^
ALLB? SCOTT - Member of Screen Writers Guild, 1941* ^QD
ED 11. GILBERT - President, Screen Set Designers Guild, 1941.
GLEN PRATT
- Business Representative, Screen Office
Employees Guild, 1941*
f
. Vice-Presidmt, Screen Cartoonists Guild,
- Screen Directors Guild, 1941 •
-^Screen Readers Guild, 1941* ~*Sr -
T^T.Tir. MASON - Screen Publicists Guild, 1941.
/[Source 2-U further statedjthat the approximate membership
of the Hollywood guilds affiliated with the Hollywood Guild Council was 4,000,
the majority of whom ware members of the Screen Writers Guild and Screen Office
Employees Guild* He further stated that the Hollywood Guild Council is now
practically inoperative due to the war conditions and the further fact that
since it was set up the Screen Office Sknployees Guild, the Set Designers Guild,
and the Screen Cartoonists Guild became affiliated with the A.F, of !♦ in the
fall of 1941 and are now a part of the Conference of Studio Unions as noted
heretofore*
Source further stated that same of the guilds mentioned
above were affiliated with the Hollywood Guild Council and are independent
groups and have no connection with national unions •
DAVE KILBERUAN
\/ FRANK TUTTLE
DON GORDON
SCREEN WRITERS GUIU)
1655 No. Cherokee Avenue,
Hollywood » California
^Source 2-7 has reported^SLt the Screen Writers Guild is
an independent organization not affiliated with the American Federation of
T » .1 VUai.«U A + «a1 1 m 4 4- eal f a ml 1 A A +- Am a 1 ftV-</*\*» nni ATI fi Y\A T C f'na Vkfl Y" (TO 4
ing agency for writers in the Hollywood motion picture industry* -
[source 2-Vhas statedjfchatf the Screen Writers Guild was or-
ganized in 1934, that it is the first union group in the cultural field to
come under donation of the Communists and fellow travellers ♦ In fact it was
organized by a group of writers who were then members of the John Reed Club
of Hollywood, a Communist front organization that afterwards became the Holly-
wood chapter of the League of American Writers in 193 5 ^ Source stated that
prominent among this group of original organizers wsref
HOWARD LAJJSON
SAA5U31 OHNITZ
DUDLEY NICHOLS
GUY ENDOHE
HARRY CARLISLE
< ■ _ < )
( @ OH'
All of ths above have long records of Cn— mnlit activity
in the Hollywood motion picture industry* J
Source further stated that the Screen Writers Guild ever
since its inception has taken the leaduong the organized cultural union
groups in the Hollywood Motion picture industry In following the Couounist
Party line in all its devious changes* He farther stated that this guild was ,
mainly responsibls for setting up the Hollywood Guild Council* a Coonunist
uumuiAwa gruup« uuvu^n muii^q wxvn uwuorwgo 01 dtucllo unions,
it has probably acted in support of that body which, as has been shown* is
another Coram unist controlled group of A.Fe of L« local Hollywood unions* Source
further stated that this guild Is the sponsor end moving force in the Hollywood
Writers Mobilization for Defense; that it sponsored the publication "Communique"
which was published and distributed Iron its headquarters. He further stated
that it is ons of the sponsors of the Hollywood Canteen which was recently set
up for the purpose of furnishing entertainment for the armed forces* Ho fujw
ther stated that its officials and members have been active in every form of
Communist and Couounist front activity in southern California for years*
Source 2-7 has further stated that the Conwunist domination
of the Screen Writers Guild has bc*n so continuously obvious that in 1936 a
small group of writers revolted against this domination and attempted to oust
the Communists from control* This revolt was led by a snail group of writers,
K
v«mnuuov« vwuwvit roYuii, mp isu oy a 1 1 group ox writers, /
most mUm of whoa were JAMES K. McGUINBSS, JOHN LES KAHDT, HOWARD QfiiETT / c
"ROGERS, PATfERSON HcNUTT, BESS JiEREDITH, HKSiAR J. 14ANCKEI3ICZ, ROBERT RISKOK f
end SAKSOK RAPHAELSON. ' I
Source further stated that on* of the foremost "red baiters* I-
as he was called at the time was Mr. MANCKCEWICZ, one of the highest paid f
writers in Hollywood. Source stated that MANCKISTflCZ ran a full page advertise- >
ment in the Hollywood Reporter, a trade daily, which he headed as follows: J[> ;
' -
"PROPOSED CHAPTER
FOR -
LOCAL NO. 1, SONS AND
DAUGHTSHS OF »I WILL ARISE* ^
SCREEN WRITERS
t TVI Tf\W M '
»
He signed the communication: f.
"Writers of Hollywood uniUt ^
You have nothing to loss but your brains I *
HERMAN J. UANCKIERICZ, V
Grub Street, Bsverly Hills, California* M
In the Year of the Terror. One," . .
New Theater June, 1936. P.25
Source 2~V further stated that dcepite the fact that this
nail group had cxpoaed the Screen ITritera Guild aa being Coonuniat controlled
it lost the fight and the guild continued aa usual* Source stated that again
in 1941 another revolt against the CooMunists in the organisation took place*
S<we of the same group tried again} notably Xr« HQ GEES and Ur« tfcGUXHESS vers
active. This time they succeeded in forcing the resignation of JOHN H01TAHD
UMSfM, DONALD OGDBI STSHAHT, and RING LARDNER, JR. from official positions* .
These three bare long been know for their Coonuniat activity* He further
stated that the resignations of LARSON, STEWART and LAHDNER were merely coiw
cessions to a state of affairs, as at this tine Communists and fellow travel-
lers were still suffering from the effects of the HITLSR-STALDJ pact, but
source stated that after Russia was attacked by HITL \& rjxd the Cocaiiur»ist Party
line changed and permitted Comaunists to pose as good, loyal American citizens
and at the sane time denounced anyone as "fascist" or "Nazi" who brought up
the question of Communis*, the Communist elements became bold and again openly
took the reins of the Screen Writers Guild*
Source further stated that the close connection between
the league of American Writers and the Screen Writers Guild is evidenced by
the membership of many of the officials and members in both organizations*
He further stated that raenbers of the League of American Writers are in com-
plete control of tho Screen Writers Guild*
Source Z-V reported to the Los Angeles Bureau office that
the following parties were elected officers of the Screen Writers Guild on
November 12, 1942 i
4/; b 1IAHT McCALL, JR. President
V/J LESIER COIS U* Vice-President
FILUIK POSTER Secretaiy /
FRAKCIS EDVJAPJ3 FIRAOOH Treasurer^
\
haisold EL'fiffvj:
UUOO BUTLER
P.'JIUL JASSXOQttfr*
GOHDOK EAiiW T>&
HARIIY JUHNITZ-
GLADTS LEffilAN-
JANS L.URFIN-
Y'ALDO SALT *. - -■
ALLAH SCOTT
JAI GURNET I •'.
FELIX JACK50H
TALBOT JEWNINGB-
JOHN LARKIN-
HAT PERRJU -
BETTY REINHARDT *
llARfflJSRITE ROBZRTS-
, <> Executive board member
Executive board member
Executive board member \y
Executive board member
Executive board member
Executive board member
Executive board member
c_ < * Executive board member
Executive board maiber
Executive board member
■Alternate executive board member
Alternate executive board member
Alternate executive board member "
Alternate executive board member
Alternate executive board member
Alternate executive board member
Alternate executive board member
/Source 2-7 and 2-W further stated) that the following offic-
ers of the guild are' followers of the Communist Party line as indicated below*
liAHY McCALL» JR.* President of the Screen Writers Guild,
is supported by the Cowiunist elements in the organisation} was elected Novee-
Uf r -LX | X7K aa i i goiuouw) naa am w*« wsrv>* o*****.—
Communist front organization, until the signing of the 5TAUN-HITLSR pact*
spoke under the auspices of the Hollywood League for Deaiocratic Action, a -
Cockiiunist front isolationist organization, on February 21, 1V40, at the Phil-
harmonic Auditorium, Los Angeles, in which the program was "Hollywood Accepts
MARTIN DISS"* She stated at this meeting rf i!ARTDi DISS was worse than commun-
ism 11 * She was one of the members of the Screen Writers Guild who wired a de-
mand to Congress on March 5, 1940 that it eliminate the DIES Committee ♦ She
sponsored the Russian anniversary celebration at the Shrine Auditorium on Novem-
ber 8, 1942* She was a member of the committee on arrangements. She is a mem-
ber of the Hollywood Writers Mobilization for Defense, a~member of the League
of American Writers, and teaches at the Hollywood Writers School and follows the
Communist Party line explicitly*
T -TV* 'III." i ^-\TP T74 ^a^DmaaJ s*. + 4Wa Tffwti aim fbi"? 1 A i I
a member of the League of American Writers* He was one of the signers of the
letters of "150", "400", which were part of the struggle between STALIN and
TROTSKY for control of the Communist Party* He was a signer of the call for
the Fourth Congress of the League of American Writers, which was a supporter
of the American Peace Mobilization* He is an instructor in the Hollywood
Writers School, a Communist dominated school run by the League of American
Writers* He has been a follower of the Communist Party line for many years*
FRANCIS EOTARD FIRAQOH* Treasurer of the Screen miters
Guild, is a member of the League of American Writers* He was one of the
signers for the call for the Third Congress of the League of American Writers*
He is a member of the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League and the Hollywood Writers
Mobilization for Defense* ^
HAROLD BUCHMAN is a member of the executive board of the
Screen Writers Guild. He is also a member of the League of American Writers,
a member of the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League, and a member of the Hollywood
Writers Mobilization for Defense* (W.
MARC CONNELLT is a member of the executive board of the
Screen Writers Guild and is a member of the League of American Writers. He
signed the call for the Third Congress of the League of American Writers*
He is a member of the Hollywood writers Mobilization for Defense* He teaches
at the Hollywood Writers School* He follows the Communist Party line* He
was a member of the arrangements committee for the Rus^Ufr anniversary cele-
bration November 8, 1942 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los 'Angeles*
(
6#
% PAUL JARRITO. aober of the executive bound of the
i Screen Writers Guild, is a member of the league of American Writers. Ho
^ teaches at the Hollywood TTrlters School and is a member of the National
- Federation for Constitutional Rights, a Canonist front organization. He
is a member of the Hollywood Writers Mobilisation for Defense. He signed
the can Tqt the Fourth Congress of the Lsague of American Writers which
endorsed the American Peace Mobilisation. He follows the Ceramist Party
line faithfully.
CORDON KAHff is a member of the executive board of the
Writers.
IT.
in
an associate editor of "The Clipper", the official organ of the League of
American Writers, Hollywood chapter* He vas a member of the Hotion Picture
Cooperative Buyers Guild, a Communist front organization. He was one of the
signers of the call for the Fourth Congress of the League of American writers
which endorsed the American f eace Mobilisation. He follows the Communist
Party line faithfully*
HAHKT JURNITZ is a ©ember of the executive board of the
Screen TJriters Guild and a member of the League of American Writers. He is
also a meaiber of the Hollywood Writers Mobilization for Defense.
HALDO SALT is a member of the executive board of the
Screen Writers Guild and a member of the League of American writers. He was
-an associAta editor- of n Thm HUnni?*. ±hm afH Hal
_ . . _ ... _
American Writers, Hollywood chapter. He is a member of the Motion Picture
Cooperative Buyers Guild, a Communist Party front organization. He was one
of the signers of the call for the Fourth Congress which endorsed the Ameri-
can Peace Mobilization. He follows the Communist Party line faithfully.
AILAK SCOTT is a member of the executive board of the
Screen Writers GuiJd and a member of the League of American Writers. He
teaches at tho Hollywood liters Scnool and is a mooter of the Hollywood
Writers Vobiliz-ition for Defense. He fojlotra tho Cocwwnist Party line
strictly.
JAY uOIg-rar is a member of the executive board of the
Screen Writers Guild and a member of the League of American rTriters. He
teaches at the Hollywood TJriters School. He was a co-author of the plays
"lleet the People* and "Zero Hour", both of which were isolationist arid were
sponsored by the American Peace Mobilisation* They were produced by the
Hollywood Theater Alliance , a Conmunist froyit group, and directed by H2RBEHT
SIBERIAN, a well known Hollywood Communist* QOKNET follows the Communist
Pa.i*tv Una
i
i
r
P
op -
— '
(
V
J
J
source z-v conpixea a xiet ox w
Ifritora Guild who are Conmunista and/or fellow travellers in the League of
American Writers and who have been identified for many yeare as engaged in
Communist activity*
JOHN HOTTAHD U7S08
SAM OflRUZ
OUDLEX NICHOLS
TESS SLESINGER
FRANK DAVIS
DOROTHY PARKER
.ULAN cx:;'Biai
:!AHIDN SUTZHR
MADELINE RUTHVEN
U
lie
LESTER COHSM
GUI EJJDOKE
JERRI SACXHEQf
VISLA BROTHER SHORE
DCKALD Ouuai SibV/Aicx
ETiA i'J^
JOK! LTilGHT
R0SURT TASKER
JOHN nEXLET
ROBERT ROSSEM
THEODORE DREISER
JULIUS EPSTEIN
PHILIP EPSTEIN
SIDNEY BUCMON
PHILLIP DUNNS
EDWARD CHODOBDV
JEROME CHODOROV
LILLIAN HSIJMAN
CEDRIC B* ? LFRAGE ""'
LIAC PUTSTSIi;
HARRY CARLISLE
WILT CASTLE
ARANUD D'USSEAU
EDV-AHD ELISEU
JOSEPH FIELDS
* - r 1 -wn -r - 1
ARTHUR KOBE?.
ALBERT "ALT-
ME3RT ?:JLTTJ2l
V. L. RIVTrIRS
(MORES SKLAR
ORSON T7FTTiT.es
VICTOR A. IAKHONTOFF
Source 2-V has stated that all of the above are active
members of the Lea cue of American Writers and the Screen !Tritere Guild; that
they are all identified either as members of the Communist Party, fellow
travellers, or members of such front organizations as the Hollywood Anti-Kazi
Lcacue, the Hoilywooo League for Democratic Action, Hollywood Peace Forum,
lor Writers in Exile, Rescue S;~ip Mission, Hollywood Writers .Mobilization for
Defense, Consumers United, notion Picture Cooperative Buyers Guild, national
Federation for Constitutional Rights, SCHffiID!ffiIAK^}ARCr Defense Coamittee,
Uniteti Spanish Aid Committee, HAJUU BRIDGES Defense Comal t tee, American Peace
Mobilization , Araeri ccn-Ru 33 i an Institute, American Society for Cultural Rela-
tions with Russia , Committee to Aid Agriculture workers, League of YJomen
Shoppers, ttestea Y!rit»ra Congress.
SCKSBM DIRECTORS ODHD
^Source 2-x has reported that the Screen Directors Guild
of Hollywood was organized in February, 1936 for the purpose as stated at that
1
66 -
4
( \
o
r *
13
time to bring the directors of motion pictures into lino with
unions in the industry* This source also furnished infometion relative to
the various parties who are active in the affairs of this guild*
This effort was made by a small group of notion picture
directors who professed the "progressive" position, and who maintained in a
broad sense that the motion picture should carry a social or political mes-
sage rather than being what they claimed it was at the time, merely an "escape
1 mechanism" for the masses. In reality the texm "progressive" meant sympathy
1 for the Communis t cause which was then just be g in n i n g to make headway among
| the intellectuals of the Hollywood motion picture industry, j
The nines of those composing this small group weres
< r
KING VIDOR
LEWIS MILES TONS
. i FRANK TUTTLE
-i) — WILLIAM K. HOWARD
JOHN PCRD
FRANK BORSAGS
HOWARD HAWKS
WESLEY BUGGIES
jchn cwimu,
WILLIAM WELLUAN
ROUEEN JiAMDUUAN
OtEQOHX LACAVA
QUBBMC8
EDWARD SU
H. BRUCE KUHBEKSTONE
The difficulty in organizing these directors whose salaries
ran into thousands of dollars per week and reducing then to a status of trade
unionists was no saall one*
The position and duties of the director of motion pictures
place him closer to the producer or employer than to the worker* At times his
interests lead him actually into the production field where he becomes an em-
ployer of a kind*
For these reasons (the Screen Directors Guild is in no
sense strictly a bargaining labor union! although the Communist theoretician
claims that it is, but the directors "as a class have not yet discovered the
fact* Actually the Screen Directors Guild occupies an anomalous position
among Bollywood labor organizations which plays at going through ths motions
of a labor union* Ths higfr salaries of the directors and their preferred po-
sition among the elite of the motion picture irorld contradicts any questions
of "wages and working conditions 19 *
ons/
This leaves the Screen Directors Guild with buttons basic
psasou for existence which, to a small group within the organisation, Is all
wi ;ln all* This reason is ideological, or, as this group would express it if
^ driven into a corner, "cultural"* By "cultural* is meant production of
tlon pictures sympathetic to the cause of Coanuniam and thf political "
of Soviet Bussia*j
t,,
This is no implication that the entire membership of the
Screen Director! Guild, or even the majority, are of this viewpoint, or that
group within the organization that no rice to steer it into this type of ac-
tivity.
. _ ^ The Screen Directors Guild, of necessity, confined within
narrow bounds as a bargaining agency* Also any political activity it ie free
to adopt is circumscribed* .
Yet in spite of those restrictions the Screen Directors /V^
Guild has sponsored such organizations as the Hollywood Writers Mobiliaationw^r
a Ccnaunist^inapired project, the Hollywood Canteen, likewise controlled by
Communist elements, the War Symphony Cosoittee, and others* It was affiliated
with the Hollywood Guild Council mentioned heretofore*
mere is considerable COuuuuiot activity SaiCng th~ * ~
vidual aesbers of the directors guild, but they function as individuals and
take part in outside organizations and groups*
The Cooummist Party has for years made every effort to
take into its folds motion picture directors* They have recognised the str*~
tegic position of the director in injecting propaganda into a picture* In
this they have been somewhat successful heretofore*
But at the present tisie the field is wide open* The po-
sition of Soviet Russia as~ an ally, and the large number of pictures now be-
ing made baaed on the war situation • pe raits those directors so inclined to
inject into the picture such Ccwuaunist propaganda as would not have been pos-
sible heretofore* And for the making of such pictures the Hollywood producers
invariably select those directors and writers who are sympathetic to toe Soviet
union and the Coouunist cause*
ing:
Thm officers of" the Screen Directors Guild are the follow*-
(2D RGB STSVBiS - Pre aidant
EBNST LDBItSCH - First Vice President
WILLIAM A. SZITEB^Secretary 1
jttf fuifrmrr - Treasurer *
J. P. McOOKAN - Executive Secre
MABEL WAITER WELLEBRANDT - Counsel
I
Board of Directors: (in addition to the above)
DAVTp BUTLER GEORGE CUKDE
EDWARD H* OIFFITH HENRI HATHAWAI
BDWAHD HAWKS MASK SANDRICH ✓
A. EKVABD SUTHERLAND RICHARD WALLACE t
WHUAK A* WELUUH SAU WXD
Alternates to the Board}
felh feist ^
jeeves eason
IRVING PICHEL
LESLEY SELANDKR
Of the above oftciala few have been openly active or have
expressed publicly sympathy for Conmuniam orita philosophy*
GBORGB STEVENS * ^Source 2-1 has reportedXhat GBORCZ STEVENS is President
of the Guild; that he has been identified with some of the Communist front
organizations* Re represented the guild in the United Cititens for Victory
Committee, and spoke at a meeting in the Philharmonic Auditorium in September
of 1942. He has had some connections with the Hollywood Theatre Alliance, a
Cosununist inspired pro j act 1 and has affiliated with various Russian Relief
drives* His activities have been of a mild nature*
ERNST UJBITSCH has been looked upon as a fellow traveller
but directed the picture "Ninotschka", which was anti-Communist satire* This
would cancel out any Communist leanings previously held* For directing this
picture he was attacked by the Communists in the industry and out*
Of NOHMAN TAUBOG, WILLIAM A* SETTER, TAT GARNETT, and
J* P* McQOWAN, there is no record of any activities*
Of the Board of Directors the same can be said, with the
exception of IRVING PICHEL, one of the alternates*
r AN
IRVING PICHEL * Source 2-X has stated) that Ur^ PICHEL has
long been active in circles allied to the Communist Party* Sponsor and active
in the Hollywood Anti-Nari League, and sponsor of the United Spanish Aid Com-
mittee, both strictly Communist front organizations* He teaches at the Holly-
wood Writers School, conducted by the League of American Writers. While PICHEL
has bean identified id.th the foregoing organisations he seems to know men tr
draw back and not go too far* However, he follows the Communis t Party line,
but safely*
/
- 69 -
/
None of the rest of the officials of the Screen Directors
Guild have been involved to any serious extent in Communist activities as ap-
_ ±. _ a. j . — ~_ A.u-1 » ^)^^ - mAon +>i o + +.hn flnmimni *t. PflT-fctr has 1
nored the motion picture director. On the contrary there has been an intensive
camoaiffi to influence the directors and it has been successful to quite an ex-
tent. But in doing this a difierent tactic was used than those which were ap-
plied to other groups and labor unions. It would not serve the purposes of
the -Communists nearly so well if they were to control the Screen Directors Guild
from the top by electing their members and fellow travellers to the offices la-
the guild. It would be much better to influence the individual director and use
him where he would serve their purpose by his control of the picture as it was
produced. Besides there would be a danger if any of the directors became pub-
licly known as Communists and sympathizers — their position in the industry would
not allow of it, particularly if they should be in control of the Guild.
Tile following members of the Screen Directors Guild in
Hollywood are known followers of the Communist Party line:
FRANK TT7TTLE. Source has stated that TUTTLE is a member
of the Communist Party (BURT-HONETCOIIBE) . He has been active in almost every
Communist inspired group operating in Hollywoodj Sponsor of the Hollywood
An ti -Nazi League. He has been active in the Hollywood Peace Forum which suc-
ceeded the Anti-^asi League and became isolationist when the Communist Party
line changed. He is a member of the Hollywood League for Democratic Action,
a Communist anti-war group following the Communist Party line, TUTTL2 spoke
at a mass meeting of a group at the Olympic Auditorium on April 6, 1940, in
Los Angeles, which meeting was to "Keep wnerica Out of the VJar". He is a meot-
ber and active in the ifotion Picture Doaocratic Committee, a Communist group
that changed to isolation when the Communist Party line changed. He is a mem-
ber of the Zukas Defense Committee-defense of Communist ZUKAS sentenced by
Yortv Committee investigating subversive activites. He was a sponsor of the
— . _ - v — - — W V* — m
United Spanish Aid Committee and other Spanish civil war aid committees and
it _3 reported that approximately $300,000 was collected for this purpose and
r that a great portion of it was collected for the purpose of bringing to the
"United States writers who were in exile and other radical factors who were in
intern ament camps in various European countries 1 for their radical and Commun-
ist activities. It is also reported that a large portion of this &3OO f 00G was
never accounted for to anyone,
eoorxea t,
•X (jo
ORSON ?/ELLES is a member of the original "Group Theatre.*,
New York, Communist controlled theater project affiliated with the New Theatre
League, a branch of the International Union of Revolutionary Theatres. He is
a member of the League of American Writers* He signed the Fourth call for
Writers Congress which was a support of the American Peace Mobilization* He
is chairman of a committee from Hollywood demanding that deportation proceed-
ings against HARRY BRIDGES be dropped* He is active in the; fiescue Ship UitW
sion, a Communist collection agency for funds never accounted for* WEU2S i*
now very patriotic, having changed with the Communist Party line* He was also
r%xr\ MV
q8
o
1\
a sponsor of the United Spanish Aid Committee and other Spanish civil war
aid committee* and it is reported that approximately $300,000 was collected
for this purpose ana that a great portion of it was collected for the purpose
of bringing to the United States writers who were in exile and other radical
factors who were in intern tr&ent camps in various European countries for their
radical and Communist activities * It is also reported that a large portion
of this $300,000 was never accounted for to anyone*
^JAT LSYDA is now Technical Director on "Mission to Moscow*,
a picture now being made by V/amer Brothers* He has a long record of Communist
activity* He was director of propaganda via the theatre for International Un-
xon oi nevojLu^icnary nniers in Moscow in ±.yji*-j>?. a« is associate ecu. tor oi
"New Theatre 11 , a publication controlled by the Communist Party, issued in New
lork from 1935 to 1939 • He was associated with the Film Library of the Modern
Museum, Rockefeller Foundation in New York in 1940* He was discharged for
Communist activity in July, 1940 by IRIS BARRY, Curator, as a result of popular
pressure* He has been engaged in many other activities*
/ HERMAN SHULUJN is a former Broadway producer, now a Holly-
wood director* He has followed the Communist Party line faithfully for many
years- He is a nember of the "Croup Theatre 1 * in New York, and active in »n
of its affairs* He was sponsor for the "Theatre Commitzee for Defense of the
Spanish Republic He was a member of the Hollywood Citizens Committee for
Federal Theatre, and a member of the Executive Board of tte Theatre Arts Com-
;nittee (T.A*C»)» He was a supporter of the American P*ace Itobilisation. He
has engaged in many other activities, all of which followed the Communist Party
line from the Popular Front to Isolation, to violent patriotism*
JOHN FORD has shown Communist sympathies to a limited ex-
tent* He is identified as attending Communist social gatherings in Hollywood
luminaries homes* (BURT) Sponsor for the Steinbeck Committee for Agricultural
Workers, a Communist controlled group (met at the Philharmonic Auditorium, Los
Angeles, March 21, 1940)* The activities of FORD were of a mild nature, and in
all probability he is an innocent*^ He was third Vice-Chainnan of the Motion
Picture Democratic Conmittee. " t
JOHN CROMWELL is one of the original organizers of the
Screen Directors Guild* He is a member of Hollywood's Committee to Protect
Civil Liberties, a completely dominated group* He is sponsor of the Hollywood
i/ HERBERT BJBEHMAN is one of the leading Communists in the
Hollywood section* He is a member of the National Council of American Peace
Mobilization* He picketed the White House for the American Peace Mobiliza-
tion, and is local chairman of that organization* as well, a qpffltf tt fcfttjfatf " ^
Peace Forum* He was involved in an attempt by the Unite^ S WWS4*im»««s
Guild to take over Hollywood unions for the Conniunist Party* He is a contri-
butor to "New Masses", New Theatre magasine. He is a member of the Hollywood
Anti-Nazi League and Motion Picture Democratic Committee. There are many
other instances of Communist activity on hie part. He is now patriotic in
conformity with the Comauniet Party iine»
x AsmS } 3L3ST0NB follows the Communist Party line. He sup-
ported the Hew Theatre League, which is affiliated with the International
Union of Revolutionary" Theatres, with headquarters in Moscow, Russia. He wrote
articles for the New Theatre magazine, in March, 1937* He is a member of the
Executive Eoard of the Uotion Picture Spanish Aid Committee, a Communist front
organisation* He sigped a letter of "150" which was protest against investiga-
tion of Moscow trials. This fact is proof that iHLSSTONS was interested in
j — rijHMWTK.r^ •+ Pb^v. tt« -t i a nnnnmny of tha Hoi IvWOOd Thsa—
UUiVr WWi AXU^o vi wuv Vrfvw*u***<p « * *v » -*■ - r — ■ — -~ - — »
tre Alliance, a Communist organization. He has engaged in many other activi-
ties*
E, A* DUFONT is editor of the Hollywood "Tribune*, a Coo-
aunist publication issued in 1939. This publication was short lived as the
HITLERrSTALIN pact caused its death.
BTTJ.TAM DIBTERIS is a follower of the Communist Party line.
He is a meaber of the Hollywood CaaSittee for Writers in Exile, a Coonunist
front organisation, and of the Hollywood Anti-Nasi League. He gave interviews
to the "Daily Worker*, the Ccwimunist Party 1 s official publication (1939)* He
was named as a member of the Communist Party by IVAN COX in December of 1937.
/" JORIS IVtys has long been identified with Communist activi-
ties. He is an original member and active in the New Theatra League, an affil-
iate of the International Union of Revolutionary Theatre e. Contributor to the
Hew Theatre ma ga sine, and director of "Documentary* films. He is a sponsor of
the Motion Picture Guild, a Communist controlled organisation for the making of
propaganda filsia (1939)/
' PARE LORarrZ has engaged in aetivitiee practically the seme
as IVEKS.
DUDIST NICHQIS was formerly a screen writer and member of
the League of American Writers. He is now a producer and director* He has a
long record of Cominiet and Communist front activities while connected with
the League of American Writers.
. ^HERBERT KLBtS is one of the original group that set up the
New Theatre League. He is editor of the New Theatre magasine. He ie one of
mentary* films. He has a long record of Cocounist ectivit
-73-
GARS IK KAN IN follows the Ctommunlst Party line. Ha is a
member of the Hollywood Committee for Writers in Exile, a Communist Party
front* He is a contributor to "New Haases", a Communist publication* He
signed a resolution to support the "Peoples Front* in England, about April 1,
19i*l* The "Peoples Front 11 in England corresponded to the American Peace Mo-
bilization in the United States* EARL EROWDER and other known Communists
were also signers of this resolution* He sponsored the Hollywood Theatre
Alliance, a Communist undertaking*
There are others among the directors of Hollywood who
have evinced sympathy for the Communist cause, but it is of a milder nature
and follows the same general pattern*
SCREEN PUBLICISTS GUIID - 1735^ No* Vine Street, Hollywood ,
California ~
/jSource 2-T has state^& substance the following with
respect to the officers and activity of "certain individuals in the Screen
Publicists Guild. The officers are:
LESLIE XASOH
TEET GAELS
DAVID HcCOIG
TEH TAUDBr
- President
- Vice-President
- Secretary
- Treasurer ^
the following:
The Executive Board mmnbera are the four above named and
WILLIAM BELCHER
WILLIAM BLOBCHBR
J3RHT BHETTINGRAM
^JOHN CAMPBELL, JH*v^
CHARI£S_fiASK©H_
ROBERT JOSEPH
BESSIE KAiUNS
DON UcEUTAINE
CAMERON SHIPP
JOHN DEL VAU£
ARTHUR ZKTiHER
Source has stated that none of the above named officers
have been identified as being members of the Communist Party or as having
taken part as individuals in any Communist activity of the usual Hollywood
variety, yet the organisation as a body has affiliated itself with know
Communist inspired groups* \
Source has stated that this union has been represented
by its President tusttb MASOH stoo has acted as a delegate and as a member of
or as sponsoring the following! The Hollywood Guild Council; Lahore Unity
for Victory Committee; Hollywood Writers Mobilisation fox Defense, which was
a part of the Screen Writers Guild; and the Langs* of <A*rfinir Writewwr- He-
has also eponsojpirt^he HcilywfrO* Canteen which is sponiored^gfoe^Ci^ br
CoeBftnist elements*
4
COMBDEMlUi
- e *wjm Wii Mjifc
— 1 _ X 3 4-U..4. 1U A *U__ -t-W-i^ mil 1<4
who hM at times represent ed the organization as a delegate is DON KING who
is considered by conservative labor unions in Hollywood to be a fellow trareller
but he has never engaged in any decided activities* He further stated that
the rmaber of members in the union is not large, approximately 350; that on
this account it has had very little influence on the larger groups or those
engaged in Communist front activities*
SCREEN READERS GUU2
>, 1655 Korth Cherokee Street
HoU
1* California
^Source 2-Z has reportedjar follow* on this guild* He has
stated that the following are the officers!
«
JOHN WEBB - President
ITTXTiM Bm3DI5T-?Ue^Preaidcnt
*
JESSIE BURNS - Corresponding Secretary
BOTH FASEH - Recording Secretary
* rttj. ntrrx^ -
HAL I2VT - Member Executive Board
BERNARD GORDO*- Member Executive Board
RESIST HAINES - Member Executive Board
. LEJIIS CLAI - Member Executive Board
VPRAHK CIZAVER - Member Executive Board
N ffTT J .T AM SHENKra- Member Executive Board
Source has stated- that the Screen Readers Guild is not
large group, perhaps not over 250 to 300 in all* He further stated that
are employed regularly at the various studio s > itoils others do vhat is called
free lance reading* Their duties are to read books $ mags sines and all forma
of published material and make synopses from which stories or scenes may be*
adapted to the motion pictures.
navw oeeo w
a large extent influenced and dominated by the Screen Writers Guild* The
reason for this is that the readers consider themselves potential writers
and their ambitions lie in that direction* For this reason the Screen Read-
ers Guild follows the lead of the Screen Writers Guild in all matters. It
is affiliated with the Hollywood Writers Mobilisation for Defense, the Holly-
wood Guild Council, and is active in supporting any political ac tivit ies and Q / A V
fronts *iich the Screen Writers Guild advocates. JMHflClM^ ^ \)
o
SCHggj DIALDOUS DIHSCT0B3 GDUP i^^^C^^ViiJt
/Source 3-1 has state^t^tTChis organisation is an inde-
pendent group not affiliated with the A.F. of L. and that it cams into exist-
ence in 1936. Hs stated that it was an attempt to organ! sc into a guild or
union that Bight b« Uraed an anomalous section of the directors guild. It
specialised nature, direction of the dialogue in the picture. These duties
naturally develop into the doaain of the director of the picture and therefore
the status of the dialogue director is soaeshet vague.
Source stated that as a. body this guild has never affili-
ated with the usual Coanunist efforts to consolidate groups such as the Solly-
eood Writers Mobilisation for Defense, the Conference of Studio Onions, or
any of the other Coanunist inspired groups. Be further stated that this guild
is not at the present tise taking a part as group in any of the usual under-
takings for ear purposee such as the Hollywood Canteen, Russian Relief, ate.
1 ■ ■ ■
Source stated that the original organisers, and those east
active in the organisation in the past are and have been the folloelngt
WILLIAM L. BROSSKAD TED STAKHOPS
STAHLSI J. GBAHDOM J1VB3 IZBKBt
ID L. DAmPOHt M2UQN SACKS*
USSTSR SCHA7FRR RICHARD LaPil
■cnwinri » rm minn l. rr mnn,
HUGOS BATTJtT
Source hajk stated that with tha axcaption of RICHARD LaPAI
nona of tha abort hart b*m i^antiflad with Cowxiitt actiritiaa. Ha atatad
. A A- j _ ee_ m ^
xor tcm jmmn * ant>fr ox w wBsmooi»^ rwy xo
did important work for tha party among tha prooinant Hollywood luainariaa, bat
ha atatad that LaPAN broka with tha party about fira yaara ago and sinca that
tfiu haa bacota violantly oppoaad to it. Ha furthar atatad that LaPAH at tha
praaant time ia not employed at tha atudioa and ao far aa ha knowa LaPAI haa
•vbandonad all political activity*
AMERICAN CPIU) OF MUSICAL AgTOO
OA (i*J) Z
/Sourca >-B haa raportadfthit fhia organisation ia not
strictly a Hollywood group but ia national in ita scopa and ia coopaaad of
proxinant moaician*, aoLoista, diractora and othsra* Ha atatad that it ia
not a Hollywood union in tha tanaa that it acta aa a -bargaining agancy , aa
all anbara of this organisation arw alao naabara of tha AMrican Fadaration
of Muaiciansj affiliatad with tha Aaarican F adoration of Labor, whj
bargaining fcgancjr foV auaidana* Sourca further atatad t.U
not been active in Cotaraunist circles but has supported some organizations sus-
pected of being Communist front organisations, such as Russian War Relief;
that it has furnished musicians free of charge to such organizations as the
Russian War Relief* He further stated that it is one of the sponsors of the
Hollywood Canteen and furnished a great deal of the music* and perhaps all
of the music, that, is given at the Canteen for entertainment purposes. He
stated positively that it has not sponsored such organizations as the Holly-
wood Writers Mobilization for Defense*
r
[Source 3-C has stated) that Screen Actors Guild is the
only labor union in Hollywood which does~ not function under a charter from
an international group affiliated with the A#F. of L« Being the only group
of its kind, that is a union of Screen Actors, it exists only in Hollywod
and for this reason it functions by a direct charter from the A.F. of L*
through the Actors Equity Association*
SCREEN ACTORS GUHD
{Source 3-C has statedVthat KENNETH THOMPSON, Executive
Secretary of the Screen Actors Guild, performs his duty as Executive Secre-
tary of the Guild and does not take part in any activities outside the needs
>t the guild as a labor union* H« does not object to the Communists funct-
ioning in the union, neither does he support them* He has never been referred
i as a Communist or fellow traveller. JEFF KIEHS in 1939 stated with respect
THOMPSON: "THO!IPSOK is vacillating and , cannot be held in line."
s guild:
^Source 3-C statedjfthat the following are the officers of
THOIIksuM - iOtecutive Secretary
TAMES CAGNST - President
GBORO A, MURPHT - First Vice-President
PAUL HARVET - Second Vice-President
WALTER ABSLL - Third Vice-President
LUCILLE GLEASON - Recording Secretary
PORTER HALL - Treasurer
WALTER ABSLL - Member, Board of Directors , . y
JAMES CACUET - Member, Board of Directors *
EUUA DUNN t Member, Board of Directors
GBORGE A. MURPHT - Member^ Board of Directors
)
LLOYD PIDGEON - Member, Board of Directors
ELIZABETH RISDON-aember, Board of Directors
FRAKCHOT TONE - Member, Board of Directors
CHARL2S TROT/BRIDGE r Uember, Board of Directors *
JANE 7HHAN - Member, ^oard of Directors.
[Source 3-C has stated>that the affairs of the Screen Actors
Guild are conducted in a different manner f ro/u the rest of the unions in the
Hollywood motion picture industry. He stated that all matters are in the hands
of the elected officers and Board of Directors; that this union does not hold
membership meetings regularly; that it has a called meeting when something
«riftr*-t ol -*t n 4 r\ nw^Afi f hut fKa mMiKawtM n m*« nr\f a rut ttAmA ar\o/«4 ^ it AnA *—
m^vv4BOi v ~ ~ i j_ i ah w « uvi wnv wu« uivuiuvi wiiA^ M&a^ *ww vii ^uwv ayvu^iAW
tion, but he stated that this occurs only on rare occasions and that the only
regular meeting is the one which is called once per year for the purpose of
electing officers.
Source further stated that due to this arrangement whereas
the membership acting as a body can take no action on such affairs, Communist
Party members, fellow travellers, and sympathizers among the Hollywood Actors
carry on their m>rk throughjaih^r organizations such as "fronts". They act as
individuals without t^^-^fScial^anction of the union, the Screen Actors Guild.
JAMES CACNEY + Source 3-C stated that CAGNET has contri-
buted large sums dt^cash to the Communist Party. This feature is being
treated elsewhere inttlts Fapo rt | [Vk-)
«
' CgPRGE A". IIURPHY , Source has stated that MURPHY is the
First Vice-President, is very friendly with the C.I.O. and PHIL A. OOMKALLT, *
President of the C.I.O. and Secretary of the L*A.IJhC. Ke stated that he
considers LHJRPHY very sympathetic to the Comnunist cause but that he nould
not be willing to call him a fellow traveller.
Source further stated that PAUL HARVEY, T7ALT2R A3ELL,
-v«XcCILLE GLEASON and PORTER HALL have not been active even in any front or-
ganizations.
FRAKCHOT TONE. Source stated that FRANCHDT TONE has 'been
very active in Communist front organizations, has contributed large suae of
money to the Communist Party, and has^eep very active in matters in which
the Communist Party has been involved i^V^
RICHARD LaP AN. Source stated that LaPAN in about 1935 Qh
or 1936 was the collector for the Communist Party amongst the motion pictured
people. At that time LaPAN stated that he had collected large sums of money
from JAKES CAGNEY and others in the Screen Actors Guild. .He^ gtatg jjthat in
1934 LAWEEWCJE ROSS was Secretary of the Communist Party itf Lo^^ngeles County
V
and on ons occasion he sent a hurried call to Hollywood insisting that IOTIS
HEIFST2 see JAHSS CAGNEI at once and get 5200*00 as he needed it immediately*
A presumption grew from this bit of information that CAGNEJ might at any time
be subject to-c*ll for Comaunist funds* (^4 ( Lt)
Source 3-C has stated that the following members of the
Screen Actors Guild have taken part in and supported Communists and Communist
controlled front activities in the Hollyiiood potion over a period of six or
seven years to his own personal knowledge j\i
L
LUCILLE BALL
roei&it bohnen
Virginia bruce—----
HOHRIS CARNGVISKI
DOROTHY CCLKINGORB
FRANCES FARMER
HELEN GCHAGEN
(correct name
JAKE GARfTNKELl — ,
ST3SART HAMBLEN -
'./ALTER HUSTON
FRED KEATING
VICTOR KILLIAN '
IDA IUPINO
FREDERICK LIARCH
PHILIP I.ERI7ALE
MAURICE j/IURPHT
CLARENCE MUSS
IRVING PICHEL
EUCIAN FRIVAL
LOUISE RAINER
PAUL ROBESON
GALE SONDERGAARD
ART SMITH
LIONEL STAND ER
FRANCHOT TONE
ORSON ViELLSS
J
A. F. of L. LOCAL UNIONS NOT MENTIONED HERETOFORE
3SP
£gource >-D has atatedjfctUt. the following sixteen unions
which have not heretofore been mentioned in this report are A.F. of L. unions
and should be mentioned here in. order that all unions in the motion picture
^industry may be accounted for. He has stated that of this number nine form
^fc-part of the I.A.T.S.E. group affiliated with the A.F. of L. through the
national organization of the I.A.T.S.E.* They are the following:
AFFILIATED PROPERTY CRAFTSMEN LOCAL 44.
INTETJ1ATICHAL PHOTOGRAPHERS LOCAL 659.
INTERNATIONAL SOUND TECHNICIANS LOCAL 695.
MAKEUP ARTISTS LOCAL 706.
MOTION PICTURE COSTUMERS LOCAL 705.
MOTION PICTURE SET ELECTRICIANS LQCALV7w«
UOnCr! FICTURS STUDIO GRIPS LOCAL 80.
!£>TION PICTUES STUDIO PROJECTIONISTS NO. 165.
STUDIO LABORATORY AND UTILITY T .'iORKSRS LOCAL 727.
' " - Source has stated that the following A.F. of L. local unions
are not a part of the I.A.T.S.3. group but are affiliated with the A.F. of L.
through their various international bosses:
local Approx. Membership
STUDIO DRIVERS (TEAuISTETS ) LOCAL 399 1,000
STUDIO FLASTEE3RS LOCAL 755 550
STUDIO CARPENTERS LOCAL 946 2,200
STUDIO UTILITY TOKKERS LOCAL 724 1,600
AMERICAN F3D3RATIDiI OF MUSICIANS LOCAL 47 500
IIJTSPilATIOKAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL YORKERS
local ::o. 40 1,300
BUILDING SERVICE rORKSBS LOCAL 99 500
C Source has stated in the above-named unions it cannot be
said that there is any large amount of Communist infiltration. A campaign for
this purpose has been carried on for the past five or six years but has not
been successful. He has further stated that in no one of these unions has any
1 of the officers been iron over to the Communists cause; nowever, among the mes-
Vtfcfrship of some of these unions Communists and their sympathizers had been ac-
tive prior to June 22, 1941, the date on which HITLER attacked STALIN. Since
that time, however, he states that Communist Party instructions have been that
there is to be unity Kith the A.F* of L # and that no serious attempts should
be made to capture official positions in those unions. He stated, however,
that this does not mean that they have dropped their activity; in fact it has
been intensified but it has been turned in numerous directions* He stated
that the purpose now is to utilize the present structure of these unions and
influence the membership to support such extra-union activities as aid to )
Russia, resolution for a second front, independence of India, support for the Q J
various projects put out by the Communists such as nurseries for the children
of v/ar workers, labor management committees and all war activities determined
by the position of the Communist Party line toward the Soviet j/hion.^
0 A
AFFrXVTS) FR3PSRTT CRAFTS} MP. (I.A.T.S.S. Affiliate)
Source >-£ has advised that none of the officers of this
union are Communists or fellow travellers and for that reason sane are not
being listed*
Source 3-8, however, has stated that the following members
of this union arc listed as Communists* FED KAIISHSLL, Communist Farty name
FHAK-: OAKTS, and 35571?? P. HEKTSCKELL, whose Communist Party name is JOHN F.
LITERS • It will be noted that HKJTSCHELL has been mentioned heretofore in
Inhibit No* 1 and Exhibit No* 2 in the correspondence between JEFF KIBRS and
IwY and other officials of the Coasaunist Party in connection with their
activities at the 34th Annual Convention of the I«A*?«S.E. held at Cleveland*
Ohio, June 6-9, 1933, in which ROT HUDSON questioned the loyalty and ability
HUGH P» KASQg . Source >-E has stated that UASOK was regis-
tered for voting purposes as a Communist in 1936* It has also appeared at the
JACK T^nCT Legislative Committee testimony that UASON attended the Comnunlst
Party fraction meetings and that Coomunist Party meetings were held in his home,
Source 3-2 has stated that the following mmabers of Local
Ko* Uk have been listed by the officials of the union as having carried on and
supported Coanuniat propaganda at union meetings*
HAERf CH3RNDC fflLLXAil D3UGL»\S
WTT.LUH rmra© ahtkur frtedson
L3UIS HAZEI ROBERT AlES >
JOHN C. FELTON IflJRRT PASCB
HOT W. VICKET GB02Q5 HAES5
B-JTSRKATIOKAI PHOTOGRAPHERS LOCAL MO. 639 (I,A«T.S.S. affiliated
iumj ji« r» wi
Source 3-4* has stated with respect to the possible Cocnuxv*
1st infiltration into the International Photographers that ttere has been no
iifiltration of Ccomunists into the officiale of this group* He stated the
nly member of this group who seems to have Coomunist connections is JA1SS HOOT
CTS, a Chinaman • Ke stated that HORE was a member of the Motion Picture Co^
oerative Buyers Guild and that he was a member of the Hollywood Anti-Kazi
jea^ue and it is considered that he has been very sympathetic to the Coomunist
duse but it is not known definitely that he has ever been a member*
DfTERKATIONAL SOUND TECHNICIANS LOCAL 695 (IJUT.S.B. Affiliated
With JuF. of ~
iditfie Ix>«
{source >-G has informed^ tne Ips Angelas Bureau office that
there la no evidence that there is any Comnunist infiltration into this union
to such an extent as to have axqr influence whatever on the union's activity as
a body. Source has stated, however, that jffiyrrn girrm, the business agent of
this union, has been identified as consorting with Comnnist elements in Holly-
wood* He further stated that 3CETH was voted for office at the Labor Rational
Convention of the I.A.T.S.E. at Columbus, Ohio in June, 1942 and was part of
what was termed the Conmnist bloc t JM rg tf Qywood, He was a delegate from his
union to Labors Unity for Victory, a Caamuiist front nesting held in the Los
Angelas Central Labor Council Hall, September Ik, 1942*
Source stated that SMITH is not what would be called a
stable man by the Cocnunists. Ha usee than and they use him for certain pur-
poses but it can be said that the Communists do not control him*
Source further stated that the other officers of this
union have not been implicated' in Communist activities and union as a body has
not supported Coonunist proposals which follow the Conmnni st Party line*
X iv UAKE OF ARTISTS LOCAL WO. 706 (I.A.T.S.E. Affiliated
* f) / N • With A* F. oTE
^Source >-H has reported/ that the membership of this uniom
Is comparatively small and is made up of old time actors* and for that reaseh
any Connist activities have fallen on barren ground* He stated that the only
member of this union who is a fellow traveller is HADJQHD LOPEZ* He stated- >
that LOPEZ was a mwaber of the Communist Party anaTTCtttvrTS^tlie M.P.W.I.U.
mentioned heretofore and for some seven or eight years has carried on Coma-
ist propaganda and has been identified with Coonunist front organisations* He
further stated that LOPS is a man of little force -and does not .have the ability
to influence anyone.
\ MOTION PICTOBB 008TUMERS LOCAL ND. 705 (I.A.T.S.E .
K AFFILIATED BBH^P, OF U
— [Source 3-1 has stated) JjlJI*^ the business
agent of thie union. He has stated that EDWARDS is not a~Cofi55llist nor a
sympathiser with Communim* that this union has an approximate membership of
600, which is composed principally of persons of foreign extraction^amq^>as
s can be found in the garment industry. Source has stated that wtjUgPMrf' tea-
* dancy of theae typea is to lean toward the left, the fact that *2ey are ex-
ceedingly well paid in the motion picture Industry override^Poaplately any
political viewpoint they might desire to adopt*
MOTION PICTURE SET ZLSCTRICIAM3 UOCAL :?0. 728
( I.A«T»S,E« affiJiated with A»F. of L.)
^Source 3-J has info naedj that the officers of this union
appear to hare no communist connections; however he has stated that among the
membership there has been somwho have been active. The following individuals
have been reported as having supported the U»S«T»G. and the Communist program
to take over the Hollywood Studio Unions:
JERRY (J.N.) FATKIN . Source "has stated that FATKIN is an
electrician who is on call to the various studios when needed* He stated that
FATKIN supports all proposals advanced in the interest of the Communist Party
line at all meetings of the union.
~ " ^y! ^)
ROY H« RICE, [source 3-J has state^j that RICE is a steward
in the union and that he is on call as a set electrician; that it is reported
that he is an associate of FATKIN in following the Communist Party line in all
union meetings *
Source has stated that MIKE ELLISON, BILL GORSUAN and
GEORGE KATZJJAN, members of this union, have cooperated with FATKIN and RICK
at all times in following the Communist Party line # N
^ ill 1
{Source 3-J further stated^hat within the last few ninths
there has developed an internal situation within this union which may result
in this membership ^roup going over to the Conference of Studio Unions domin-
ated by Communist influence under the leadership of HERBERT X. SORRELL. He
further stated that PAT CA3ST, the Labor Relations uan between the studios and
the unions, is in favor of lining up with the Conference of Studio Unions. He
stated, however, that GUT RUSHING, the secretary of this union, is opposed to
any Communist infiltration, but the business agent, A. J. MORAN, seems to favor
collaboration with Communist controlled unions at the 1 studios* He stated, bow^
ever, that it cannot be stated that MORAN is a Communist but at times he has
been known to sympathize with Communist programs and has advocated following
some activities which are a part of the Communist Party line*
^Source 3-J has statedjthat *the following parties who are
members and not officers of this union are known to have Conmunist sympathies i
JOEL KRONISH HERMAN LIPNET
FRED HOUNSCHELL WILLIAM SHARK
GEORGE MSROHOFF CHARIES GUTHRIE
WILLIAM KANE*" C2JDRGE KATZMAN
3D HARPER H. C. JUMP
GBDRCE DAVIS RICHARD LI9TNGST0
WILLpUJLGORSMAN \ T. V. SHEFFIEU)
HI" H. C. JUUP
MOTION PICTURE STODIQ GRIPS LOCAL NO, 30 (I.A.T.S.E *
Affiliated with A. F, of L
/^Source 3-K has inxoraeajtne lob Angeles Bureau Office
that none of the ofiiciala of this union have any Communis t connections* He
further stated that the whole union is patriotically opposed to all Cocnmuniet
influence*
■ MOTION PICTURE FRQJSCTIOHISTS LOCAL NO. 165 (I.A.T.S.E *
Affiliated with A» F» of L *
^Source 3-L haa informed Agent that- this local is a nail
free from Communist connections. He further stated that there is one member*
EDWARD L3VEGUE, who is a member of the Communis t Party under the name of HER-
BERT FOHD. He stated that LEVSGUE was a member of the U.F.iT.I.U. in 1934 and
1935 and at that time was very sympathetic to Corranunism and later joined the
Communist ^arty and has informed that he retains his membership in the Conmnn-
ist Party -(X^)
LABORERS Alfl) UTILITY WORKERS LOCAL HO. 723 (l,A»T.S.E ,
Affiliated with A* F» of L *
^Source 3-U has informer) Agent that this union is one of
the I.A.T.S.E. grou{T and that at one time this union had jurisdiction over
utility workers and laborers in the studios, but within the last few years
oiiwwioi luuwu, -jwuolu uuxoj,^ juu^xw^coa cuj * ( <- f ) j±ixxu.xa^ea wilxi tne in-
ternational Hod Carriers, Building and Common Laborers Union Of America, af-
filiated with A, F» of L., has taken over most of this type of workers, which
has left this union with only about 250 to 300 members* ie stated that as a
result there is no Communist activity in the union at all as it is expected
that sooner or later this union will voluntarily go out of existence,
^ A1CHICAN FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS LOCAL NO, 47
/Source 3-N has reporte^to* the Los Angeles Bureau Office
that this union is an affiliate of the American Federation of Labor and
represents all organized ausicians in the Los Angeles section as the bargain-
ing agency* He stated that this union is not strictly a Hollywood union but
it aoea encompass all musicians who work in the studios in Hollywood* \
C$Qtxcc% 3-N state^tki^^ie officers of this union at the *
present time are the following: J. K. (SPIKE) WALLACE, is the Prssidj
business, representative* Cr
JOHN GHDEN - Vice-President
FRANK B. PENDIZTON - Recording Secretary
- *W ^ ,
( .
J
AL C. IHZBS •
JOHN U. BOYD
H. C. GHEES.
RICHARD DICI
ZARHK bICKFOHD
JACK BAPTISTE
ART GE3DLSR
IIASHE H. PAUL
GEORGE H. SMITH
- Financial Secretary .
- Trustee
- Trust ee
H "s— TfuStee
- Member Board of Directors
- Member Board of Directors
- Member Board of Directors
- Member Board of Directors
- Member Board of Directors
The officers are also Members of the Board of Directors •
• r ^<IW :
£ Source statedrthat this union is one of the largest
groups of the A.F. of L. in southern California, having a paid up membership
_ * t i«i __ a rw\ Attatui. a | A 4- fh B f AlfVumk +• Vi-i * A«aan4«flfS An hum
a clause in its constitution which demands expulsion from the union of any m<
ber or members who are Communists! who advocate Communism or any other subver-
sive doctrines, or who engage in subversive propaganda, the union as a body
has cooperated with known Conaunist groups in the Los Angeles locality.
Source further stated that the Musicians Local No, 47
from about 1937 to 1940 was conducted in a conservative manner; that JACK
TEHNEI was President of the union during that time. He stated that the union
has a hall at 141? Georgia Street, which is owned by the union. He further
stated that TBNNET was elected to the California State Legislature in 1938
and he afterward became a member of the Sam Yorty Assoubly Investigating Com-
mittee and in 1941 TEIINSY succeeded YORTX in the committee which was after-
wards known as the Tenney Legislative Investigating Committee and was also
known aa the Anti-Subversive Committee of the California State Legislature*
Source stated that T3KNEI ceased to be the President of
the union in 1940 and J # K. '.TALLAGE wasjslected to succeed him* He further
~*t$ted that after TEIKET went out of office aa President, 'TALLAGE, SAH AIBERTS,
the union; that ALBERTI, ALTLIAN and BAN have been identified as members of the
Communist Party up until 1940. He stated that prior to that time ALBERTS nu
not known as a Communist Party member but was considered a fellow traveller •
£ Source 3-N has further stated] that the Communist j
union are expressed through iEs President, J. K. 7TJ
ns, which i^-^
IE- SOB- QJ,
ssed a I
line
activities of this union are expressed through its President, J. K. TALLAGE
who sits in the forefront to support the Conference of Studio Unions, which
completely Communist controlled and under the leadership of HEP3ERT
E3LL, & well known Communist. He further stated that the union passed
resolution about October 1, 1942 demanding the opening of a second front.
He further stated that Y/ALLACE as a delegate to Labors Unity f6r 7i
r •
610!5
Comnittee, a Communist dominated group, rent on record as saying that his
union had gone on record as supporting the Committee for the Care of Children
XXI f"j BlfL 1JUH , tk l# OpWllQWiVU £A^-»V*p« XUi V44V4 thPWCAWW *»w »
vidual WALLACE'S name appears on a pamphlet written by D ALTON TKUMBO, a well
known Communist writer in Hollywood, as a sponsor* He further explained that
this pamphlet was a protest against the deportation of HARRY BRIDGES. He fur-
ther stated that WALLACE, speaking for this union, has led the attack on the
activities, of .the Anti-Subversive Committee and JACK TENNEY personally*
(TENKET was elected to the State Senate in the November, 1942 election,)
^Source 3-N further st atom that WALLACE and this union take
credit for the establishment of the Hollywood Canteen, which behind the scenes
is controlled by a group of Communists and fellow travellers in Hollywood. He
stated that this canteen furnished entertainment and refreshments for the aimed
forces without charge. He further stated that the general impression is that
T7AIXACE is not a Communist Party member but he sponsors Communist activities
union that it will support demands made by SOERELL and his Conference of Studio
Unions in any demands that they will make on the motion picture industry.
STUDIO DRIV5ES LOCAL IflBBBB 399
/^Source >-0 has stated'^Iat^theire has been an intensive
campaign carried on by the Communists to penetrate and overtake this union,
a campaign which was led by known Communists, fellow travellers and sympa^
hizers."* This local union was considered by them to be a key union in that
roup of A.F. of L. locals not* a part of the I.A.T.S.E. bloc. In this they
sre correct for the reason that if they could succeed in capturing this group
c would provide an important wedge to penetrate the teamsters group on the
The campaign reached its height in 1941. At this time
^he heads of the union, Mr. JOSEPH TUOHT ». Business Representative, and RALPH
f&AKE, Secretary, who, with all other officials of the union, are opposed
to radical activities, succeeded in expelling two* of the Communist leaden
from the union on charges of Communism. The two leaders were GENE BRADI
and BEN BUDMAN, whoee record appears in the files of the Los Angeles Bureau
office*
These expulsions tended to stop activity and at the
*esent time it is of little importance, although there is a sizeable group
Ccmunist* and fellow travellers in the union. However, they are strictly ^
^isrcover and give little trouble*
* ■
-85-
- .. . Ll-JLi'Ai+fr
(
Their names are:
\^L. J. McCORUICK
(Husband of LARUE McCORMCK)
ROY HcKEAN
AL CAYA
STANLEY FARKER- .
HARRY ATT.TSOM— ■
JOHN STRONG
HARRY STONB—
VSRME SPARRY
JACK GANNON
GOLD IE GREEN
ADRIAN BEAIX
CHARLES
LEON SILVER
FRANK TALBOT
FLOYD PRATT
FRANK CO LLIER
'.VILEY HILL
JAIES DeSHCN "
CECIL BEAVER
GEORGE COLSHAH
(Correct name ITOffiS EDELMAN)
VINCENT LARSEN
JACK KESSLER
HARRY 37SRNESRG
SOL GOLDBHRG
L. D. SAUPSO]
!ted\the
Source 3-0 has WLlectedVtfie information about these mem-
bers himself, personally, through otH^r members of the union. He stated that
they were active in the U.3 .T.G. in 197?; that they supported the Motion Pic-
ture Democratic Committee, which ?ras a Communist front organization. He
stated that they also objected to the expulsion from the union of BEN BUDUAIT
and GENE 3RADT because of their Communist activities* The expulsion wis made
by a vote in an open hearing of the union* AL CAYA acted as the spokesman at
the first hearing. At the second hearing, which took place in 1941, BRADY and
3UD!IAIT sought the advice of GEORGE SHIBLEY, an attorney at Long Beach, Cali-
fornia who has been involved in Communist activities and is a member of the
Lawyers Guild and whose practice is confined to individuals and organisations
of a Communist viewpoint and the men mentioned above voted against expulsion*
They did not support the American Peace Ifobilization or other fronts outside
their labor union*
STUDIO PLASTERERS LOCAL HTOi
JJSoixce 3-P has statedjthat this union is one of the con-
servative bloc of unions. BEN I IAOTBIEZ. is the business representative of the
union and has been cooperative in combating Communist activity in the Holly-
wood unions* v
^Source 3-P haa stated] ££at there are no Communist activi-
ties in this union of any consequence; that the membership is limited and it
ha not one of the larger key unions; that the membership is approximately 400%
~ 86 -
Source 3-P further stated ihat the only members of the ^
union who hew shown Communist tendencies arerxTK i+>)
/ RUDOLPH PAHDUCCI^ /
/ HENHT GREUT33T \(ftM
/ HAROLD F. WILSON * v
He further stated that their activities have been confined
to conversations with their own union members. He further stated that this _
union's membership is composed of Italians largely and that the work which they
do is ornamental plaster cast work^*/
STUDIO CARF5MTEH5 IOC AL NUMBER 946
rSource 3-Q informed] Agent that this union is apparently
free of any outwara Communist activiti%s. Ke stated that it is an old line
group, the members of ?*ich are for the most part men identified with the pic-
ture industry for many years* He further stated that the membership of this
union tended to lean toward the conservative side. He also stated that it had
been reported that there had been some Communist agitation in the past but at
are in no way involved in radical activity of any kind; however their position
is one of neutrality toward Communist activity, A^j
^Source 3-Q further state^tnat at a meeting of this union
in June, 1941 of various conservative heads of Holl^vwood unions to combat Com-
jaunist activity the representatives of this group would not cooperate. Attempts
were laier made to get their representatives to do so but without results • He
further stated that the membership of this union is approximately 2,200 and that
the position which the officers took on the situation with respect to Communists
was one of aloofness, contending that there was no problan within the organiza-
tion they represented.
r ^
STUDIO UTILITY EilPlJOpES LOCAL NO. 724
^Source >-R infomed^ the membership of this union
is approximately 1,600 and that there is no serious attempt by the Conmunist
element to penetrate this sroup. Attempts have been made in the past but such
off omnVa w£i v«A finf ivialif linen ArtAcefnl
Source has stated that the officials of the union are in
no way implicated in any radical activity; in fact it is one of the organiza-
tions in the Hollywood industry that has been aware of what has been going on
and has consistently taken steps to prevent any Communist activity within the \
ranks of the membership. * ' j/
)
In addition to the conservative position of the
officials another factor operates to prevent Communist activity. And t
is that the membership is composed of common laborers who drift in and out
it is impossible for the Communist elements to concentrate on the members to
build up a permanent faction*
The officials of the union, particularly LEW HELM, Busi-
ness Representative, and H# C» ROHRBACH, JR#, Secretary, have cooperated with
other conservative union leaders in Hollywood unions to put down, or prevent
Communist activity in the unions*
HOUTflOOP UNIONS FREE OF COMMUNIST PARTT INFLUENCE
^Source >-S has state^t< ^he following motion picture
unions in Hollywood, California, have, so far as he has been able to ascertain
remained entirely free of Communist Party influence* They are the following:
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS,
A.F. of L« LOCAL 40, Approximately 900 members
BULujING SERVICE TJOHKERS KQ» 99, A.F. of L#,
approximately 500 members
SOCETT OF UOTIOK PICTURE CITERIGK DECORATORS,
lilDEFEtfDEOT - approximately 250 members
MOTION PICTURE HAIR STYLISTS GUIIL - Indepenaent
approximately 250 members
ARTISTS L1ANAGERS CSJIID - Independent - approximately
100 members
SCRIPT CLERKS GUILOl- Independent - approximately
250 members *
UNIT UANACERS GUHD r Independent - approximately 100
FIRST AID MEN AWE VJOMENS UNION - Independent - approxi-
mate 150 members
SOCIET? OF 110TI0N PICTURE FIUl EDITORS - Independent r\U
approximately 650 members MN
LSource 3-S stated J that v two of the above na*ed A.F, of U
•B .E.Vf. Local No* 40 which fias about 900 members, andf the Building
Service Workers Mo. 99 with an approximate membership of about 500, have not
shown any activity along Ccxanunist line© as organizations. The officials of
these unions have not been identified with any fora of Communist activity
to his knowledge.
^Source 3-S further stategthat the seven independent
unions named are small groups loosely organized and have not joined with any
other unions in any activity of any sort so far as communism is concerned.
HeTstated ~tAat~they function as small independent groups in efforts to better _ _
their working conditions. He further stated that these unions could not be
considered key groups and it therefore appears that there has not been inten-
sive concentration on them by the Communist Party. It has always been a con-
tention of the Communist element in Hollywood that if they could get eontrol
of the key unions, particularly those which are a part of the Conference of
Studio Unions and several other I.A.T.S.E. locals, not yet a part of the lat-
ter group, they would have the situation well in hand, and then could force
the remainder of the unions to fall in line with their wishes.
ggjBRAL SUtfWUff
OF THE LABOR UNION SITUATION IN THE HOLLT/POD
MOTION PIC1URE INDUSTRY ,
^ sfol ^
[Source 3-T has assisted) in summing up the labor union sit-
uation as it existsln Hollywood and has pointed out the various efforts which
have been made by the Comaunists and the Communist Party to get control of
the various unions and guilds, and has gone a little farther and has shown the
y/ay in which the motion picture guilds and unions have endeavored to follow
the Conmunist Party line which he has stated has been "without deviation" ♦
He has further pointed out that while the motion picture unions and guilds are
at the present time on the surface at least for an all out war 0f£ort 9 that
one who is familiar with their tactics can readily see that the Communist
Party at the present time is losing no opportunity to further the interests
of the Communist Party at the present^time.
This summary is as follows >
"In its attempt to take over and control the motion pio~
ture industry in Hollywood, plans for wnich were laid down about twelve
years ago, the Communist Party has consistently pursued policies and
methods which were adjusted to different group interests and which varied
in application according to the different changes in the party line of
the Ccaanunist International (Comintern). /w 1
4 >y ir^^
"In Hollywood there were two main lines of procedure;
one for influencing the so-called cultural groups, writers, actors,
artists, directors, etc., and another for penetration and the captur-
same, although there was under cover coordination of all communist
interests and controlled groups.
_ n^s been shown heretofore, the initial attempt to
enter the trade union field in the motion picture industry was the
formation of the potion Picture Workers Industrial Union. This union,
although not affiliated with the Trade Union Unity League (T.U.U*L.)>
was set up along the same lines of that basic communist organization
and had the same object in yiew-
"At the time of the foraation of the lf.P. T .v.I.U. in 1934
the line of the Communist Party v*as to form independent unions, mould
them into revolutionary unions and work for the eventual overthrow of
capitalist democracy by means of violent revolution.
"This line of the Communist Party is clearly laid down
in THE COMUUNIST, the official monthly organ of the Communist Party of
the United States for June 1930, at Page 509, Where it is stated:-
*\7e should keep in mind that the Party has also at
its disposal other organizations, schools of the
class struggle, scnoola of Communist strategy and
f Qn4"J utkaM if Aon jq nri ^ n fa r>+. «hr>iiT A rflrwi t.
workers by the thousands who are insufficiently pre-
pared, and in need of preliminary schooling. Such
are, first ox ail, the revolutionary trade unions. *
Again, on page $12 it stated:
'The TUUL is an independent leader in the economic ,
struggles of the working class* It is an uncompromis-
ing foe of the A.F. of L. Its task is to mobilize the
masses, win them to its side, embrace them organiza-
tionally within its own folds and to destroy the A.F.
of L.'
iintL ^ — . - a. - J x. 1.1 2 ^ r> ... J. i.J ~ -~ ~ 0 X U^. Tfs*. T 1 —
wood motion picture industry by way of the Motion Picture Workers In-
dustrial Union which was completely Communist dominated and which fol-
lowed the Communist Party line implicitly.
"At the Seventh Yfcrld Congress of the Communist Inter-
national held in Moscow July 25th to August 20th, 1935, at which Congress
EARL BHDWDER was one of the delegates from the United States, a decision
was made to alter the methods and tactics of the i*>rld Coamunist movements
What was called at that time the 'United Front 1 , later called the 1 Popular
Front 1 , set up* All the various Communist parties throughout the
world were ordered to conform and change their methods and tactics*
"In the trade union field this united front tactic called
for the abandonment of revolutionary tactics, substituting therefor the
boring-from-within process whereby all Communists were to join and work
within the then existing trade unions, vrtiich meant in the United States
the American Federation of Labor* They were to try and capture the lead-
ership and key positions in the unions and bend the organizations over
to the Communist Party line which had now become 'support of bourgeois
democracy, opposition to fascism, etc. f . This change in the Communist
Party line was determined by the foreign policy of the Soviet union which
was then advocating 1 collective security 1 against the tendency toward
fascism*
"This line for action of Conmunists in trade unions was
laid down by GEORGE DEUTROF, head of the Communist International, at
this Congress as follows:
'Hence, the main task of the Communist Parties of the
West at the present tame is to develop the campaign
to its consummation; to sea to it that all Communists,
without exception, join the trade unions, there to
work systematically and patiently to strengthen the
solidarity of the working class in its fight against
capital, and thus attain the conditions that will
enable the Communist Parties to rely upon the trade
unions* f (Report T>f DEOTROF to Seventh World Con-
gress - Page 44) ' *
"EARL BROTHER, on his return to the United States from
this Congress, repeated this formula at the Novoaber (1935) Plenum of
the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the United States, as
follows;
'The Seventh World Congress formulated a new tactical
line because new conditions have arisen, not because
the old line was wrong* The Communists are Marxists,
Leninists and Stalinists , We adopt such tactics as
best suit the concrete conditions. We will adopt new
tactics agqnn when changing conditions demand it»
TThat Communists do not change, of course, is their
strategic adm — the proletarian revoluti on and social-
Ism * Naturally, the Seventh World Congress made no
change in that at all* On the contrary, it equipped
the working class vanguard with such a tactical line
as will enable them to fight most effectively for 'this
aim in the present world conditions .*
(BRCTTDEE'S report - Page 6)
"Then, respecting the trade anion situation, specifically,
BB07JDER had this to report:
*Our party faces a great responsibility in the pre-
sent traae union situation. •••«•« in order more
£■■•11** s»awm»» 4- W rrW +• U -I o wnIa «ta mn*+. rrtmnlflt.*
the organization of the unorganized Communists, those
who are eligible but have r»t yet joined the trade
unions* A1-l party organizations must consider it
one of their tasks to bring the Communists into the
organized trade union movement* 9
(Pages 5>54, BR07EER Report)
"As a result of this decision of the Seventh World Con-
gress held in Moscow, Russia, and the subsequent report of EARL 3307JDER
to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the United States,
the Motion Picture Yforkers Industrial Union of Hollywood, a revolutionary
trade union, was quietly dissolved in February, 1936, and all Communist
Party members, fellow travellers and sympathizers obediently went over
and joined the then existing A«F. of U unions in the Hollywood motion
picture industry and began to work according to instructions based upon
the Moscow decisions* /*
*rhen followed the various maneuvering* heretofore de-
scribed the formation of such groups as Conference of Motion Picture
Arts and Crafts (COMPAC), United Studio Technicians Guild (USTG),
Conference of Studio Unions, and a host of smaller groupings, all of
which was aetenained by the Communist Party line*
'During this period and up to the signing of the STALDJ- ~
HITIER pact on August 23, 1939, the Communist Party made tremendous . tfj
strides both in capturing unions and gaining influence all through the \"
motion picture industry* Concealing their identity by pretending sup-
port of democracy, registering politically as members c£ the Democratic
party, and carrying out the Trojan horse tactics of jh^ (*g«M» i£W : fcfo? ~:
national, their influence spread among the rank and file
unions*
(
"However, with the announcement of the STALITJ-HITLHE
pact there was a lull in the progress. For the duration of that
pact, August 23, 1939 to June 22, 1%1» the Communists confined their
operations in the unions nainly to collective bargaining for the mem-
bers, dropping the outward Communist political agitation almost com-
pletely ♦ Politically, they were in very bad odor. But however, this
bad odor affected them politically they retained their hold on the un-
ion groups because the Hollywood motion picture producers, through
their labor representative, PAT CASEY, favored the Communist controlled
unions. This enhanced the prestige of the Communist controlled leader-
ship Tfcich was thereby enabled to hold on during that rough period*
r, The charge in the Communist ?art v line that came with
this signing of the STAIJ3MUTLER pact on August' <:3i 1939, a change
which demanded that Communists abandon support of democracy as exempli-
fied by the Popular Front, and work for isolation, oppose national de-
fense, conscription, Lease-Lend aid to Britain, in effect give aid and
comfort as far as possible to Nazi Germany and the Axis powers, was fol-
lowed by the Communist controlled Hollywood unions cautiously* They took
the then Communist position that it was an imperialist war and America
should have none of it# But this line was followed in a very cloudy and
ambiguous manner. However, some of the unions went so far as to support
the American Peace Mobilization*
"In the main, however, such support was an individual
matter with some of the leaders of the Co;mnunist persuasion within the
unions* But it was very limited for the reason that it is an important
part of Communist strategy that Communist union leaders must alrays be
protected from exposure. They are instructed to confine their activi-
ties mainly to their union affairs, particularly during a period when
the party is under such fire as it was during the period of the HITIER-
STALIK pact. The party line was carried more openly at this time by the
cultural groups, and "front organizations with which many of the Commun-
ists were working secretly. _
"With HITLER'S attack on RusBia on June 22, 194l> a new
period was ushered in. The change in the position of Soviet Russia and
its subsidiary, the Communist International, from one of collaboration
with the Axis powers to one of antagonism, and the subsequent alliance
of Russia with Great Britain and the United States was immediately re-
flected in the union activities of the Hollywood motion picture indus-
try.
"From a position of opposition to the war in every
spect, the Communist controlled groups now suddenly became violently
patriotic and began shouting for all-out support of democracy, the war
national defense, second front, and in favor of everything
condemned just a few weeks before* This is the situation as
vails at this time.
"And it is on this situation which the Coimaunist Party
relies to eventually control and dominate the Hollywood studio union*.
By assuming the garb of ultra patriotism , giving all support to every
project for national defense and taking part in all efforts to prose-
cute a successful end to the war, it is outwardly going along with
the tide* But at the same time it is working feverishly undercover to
build the party influence, recruit members into its ranks and to take
advantage of every channel and avenue to build membership and influence.
"In this it, the Communist Party, is following out the
basic principle of the Seventh 7/orld Congress of the Communist Inter-
national, which ZARL SROV/DER clearly stated in his report on this Con-
gress given at Madison Square Garden in New York City, on October 3rd,
1935, when he stated:
f If, nevertheless, war breaks out, it is their duty
to work for its soeedv termination, and to strive
with all their might to utilize the economic and po-
litical crisis produced by the war, to rouse the po-
litical consciousness of the masses of the people and
thereby hasten the downfall of capitalist class rale* 1
(BHOaDSR'S report - Page 7)
"The tactics pursued by the Communists and fellow travel-
lers within the Hollywood unions, and the cultural groups as well, are,
»i +■ +■ Ua c A ^4mA r\rs+" Arte"? 1 -n A A A tr% ^ «»^nV\T a Mm ^ Vs *h -i -*» a s*\ *m t a
as has been said, behind an all-out war effort, they are utilizing all
their forces in work among the thousands of workers in all categories.
Their activities take the form of agitation for the second front, Russian
relief, sympathy for the Soviet system of government, freedom for India,
negro equality, defense of Hjuuti EttjjJUi£>, pressure w nave uommunis^s
placed on the n far Manpower Commission, Civilian Defense, Rationing
3oards, and all government appointed agencies, entertainment of and pro-
paganda among the armed forces, etc* etc. All this is part of the Commun-
ist Party line at this time.
"All attempts to capture leaoership and key positions in
the unions by the usual tactics of slander, innuendo and false accusa-
tions against the conservative leaders have been temporarily abandoned.
In their place have been substituted the program activities mentioned
above and an approach to these conservative leaders for cooperation with
the Communist Party line.
"In this program the Communists in the unions have the
fullest support from the cultural groups, writers, actors, directors
and the Hollywood "intelligent.sia" generally who follow the Communist
Party line. These latter have great influence and prestige. Of ail
groups in the Hollywood sector these cultural groups are the most sus-
ceptible to Communist influence. Having greater latitude as theore-
ticians and artists their necks are generally found to be much farther
out than those of the Communist trade unionists who are instructed to
play a much closer game*
"To summarize the present union situation in Hollywood
it must be stated that while the campaign to tateover the remaining
unions from the top, not yet under Communist control, has now been
halted, the foundations lor a future coup by the Communist Party, its
fellow travellers and sympathizers is now being laid. Utilizing the
position and prestige of Soviet Russia in the war eflort, the Communist
Party is building a strong following among all departments of the motion
picture industry, a feat not particularly difficult at this time due to
the peculiarities of the industry, its strong racial factors and forei^i
ties.
"Due to the war situation the picture may appear confus-
ing; but it will become somewhat clearer if it is borne in mind that the
leaders of the Communist International have stated many times with au-
thority, that 'support of bourgeois democracy is not a principle; on the
contrary, it is only a tactic to be applied under certain conditions. 1
This principle is clearly set iorth in the report of EARL SRCWDER quoted
above.
"The tremendous influence of Hollywood and the motion pic-
ture on the ways and customs of the people of the United States and the
mn ■+ nrtf V>*» nn/)a«*AQf nunnf oil T*V^* P/Nnmnn-I o+ TnlAvmAf Via. iim
stood this for many years and has been laying plana accordingly. It is
fully aware of this influence and ^f or that reason has concentrated on both
the trade unions and the cultural departments.
'•On the surface the increasing influence of the Communist
Party and its fellow travellers is not so apparent, amalgamated as it is
with the war effort. But behind the scenes this influence is growing and
has now become so strong that it is able to influence the type of picture
being made, or prevent anything being put into a picture which is consid-
ered contrary to the Comunist Party line*
« >
"Despite »n pro testations by the Communists and their
fellow travellers that they now stand for complete support of democratic
processes, that they are for ail-out support of the war, and despite
the fact that they now appear in the garb of ardent American patriots,
they are working furiously behind the scenes to build the party and its
influence in order that they may render service to the Soviet Union and
its foreign policy, even though that policy should lead to direct antag-
onism to the interests of the government of the United States.
"This principle is clearly understood by all members of
the Communist Party and trusted fellow travellers. It was clearly
stated by 3ARL BRQTJDER in his speech in Madison Garden, Mew York City,
on October 3rd, 1935, quoted above*
"A statement made by a Communist of some importance in
the Los Angeles section, EUCEHE UHDSR, within the last thirty days,
to the effect that they expected, within the next five years, to bring
about the proletarian revolution, is indicative of the party position*
Source 3-T has stated that UNDER has been a Communist
Party member since 1934, at which time he attended meetings at Unit J-6,
Hollywood Sub-section* He further stated that in 1937 LIISDZE made a trip
to Russia in company with one GIBBS, and attorney LED GALLAGHER joined then
or at least joined LENDER in Europe and toured several countries of Europe
with UKD3R. He stated that on UNDER 1 S return to the United States he de-
livered a series of lectures on the advantages of the Soviet union and the
justice of Communism
Source further stated that UNDER was the chairman of
the Saturday Discussion Club, a Conmunist propaganda forum which holds meet-
ings in Clifton 1 s Cafeteria on Olive Street in Los Angeles, at the same time
that he, UNDER, was employed on the Adult Educational Project of the Works
Projects Administration. SjU ' N
^> . SlP
^Source 3-T stateajthat UNDER Jtaught sociology and ec<^
nomics at the Belmont, Fairfax, and Hollywood high schools in Los Angeles,
as well as at several so-called discussion clubs and open forums and various
women 1 s clubs*
')
COCIUNI5T INFn^RATIOH AND COMMUIilST CONTROL IN TH5 SO-CALLSD
CULTURAL, rOLITICALt PROPAGANDA AT3) FRONT ORGAKIZJC - "
TI0N3 IN THE UGTIOK ?ICTUH5 INDUS TOT IN
HOUffPOD
The first section of this report dealt with the infiltrar-
tion of Communists and Coramunist influence and control into the labor unions
*nd cuiids in the aotion picture industry in Hollywood, California.
This, the second section of this report ,fdeals with the
control and attempted control by the Communist party of the U.S.A. under gen-
eral directives from the Communist Party of the Soviet Union over certain
groups of directors, writers, actors, actresses and highly paid technicians,
the so-called intellectuals employed in the motion picture industry in Holly-
wood* £The purpose of this control is to utilize the motion picture as a pow-
erful instrument of propaganda and cause the production of pictures which will
serve the interests of the foreign policy of the Soviet Union throughout the
world. J
CORIUNIST CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN HQIXTDOD
[Source 3-0, who was a member of the Communist Party in
Hollywood for a number of years sLi^d^bft has been very active in Hollyiwod ac-
tivities for many years, has state^Tfcnav the Communist cultural entry into
Kollywooa was not a spontaneous movement by certain persons in the industry
vmo v/ere in sympathy with r1 social cause s 11 and who, living in an artificial
world of make-believe wished a vicarious thrill by playing at being the
dreaded revolutionary in real life, on the contrary this program of Communist
infiltration of the Hollywood motion picture industry with the object of tak-
ing over and influencing it in the interests of the Communist rorld revolution,
was planned in 1934 and thoss plans were laid far afield from the local scene.
This is noz to say that some of those who later became involved in Communist
activities among the cultural groups in the industry were not romantic dabblers
&r$hzt has become since about 1936 a sojfl of fad with the intelligentsia of
the'film world, but that ^roup of Communist Party ^heel horses which has been
working constantly in the interests of the Communist Party and Communism, is
in dead earnest, and when properly understood in the light of its place and
functions as part of a gigantic Trorld Conspiracy, there can be no denial that
it has been extremely successful.
In an attempt to measure the progress of Communist activi-
ties and influence in the motion picture industry, it must be done by keeping
in mind the role to be played, which is to influence the minds and emotions*
of the great masses of people of the United States and the r,orld. rj&ttra$*l* 0
be remembered that here in the United States alone the motion gri^prWeaches
approximately 85,000,000 people each week, that being the average weekly at-
tendance. £flhile there has been an immense program of infiltration into the
/
studio labor unions, as has been shown, it is among the intellectuals, par-
ticularly the writers, directors, actors and artists, the so-called cultural
field, where nost progress has been made and where Ccnnunist sympathy and
influence is the strongest and most far-reaching;] and this is only natural,
Tor, despite all claims and pretensions that Communism as propagated by the
world Conmunist Internationale (Comintern) is a "workers 1 movement" and meant
to f;*ee the "toiling masses' 1 froa the wage slavery oi' capitalism and its opera-
tions, in"Yeaiity this is not true, and never was. The Communists, and all
radical movements, in fact, are novement3 led by frustrated and satiated intel-
lectuals who, under the ^uise of Hj orating the working classes, eeek to set
themselves up as a privileged class in a new society of which they will be the
directing heads .
The makers of the Russian Revolution in 1917, the model
for Communists everywhere, ;?ere a!3 intellectuals — they never worked a day in
their lives at manual labor. This fact is proven further when we see the
Pnmmnm o+ "loon <a-»* e />■€ 1 ohrtT* nn-inna nom T r\ + V><fc TlriT H t.f> C a <5 * nt.pl T «r»tJlfl1 « _
or striving to be such. The reason for this is that what is called Uarxiaa,
Leninism, and Stalinism — a combination of terms used by Comnunists everywhere—
is based on theory, and that theory calls for intensive intellectual concent
tration. It is only from th^s basis of reasoning that the Communist activities
of the highly paid waiters, directors, actors and artists, whose salaries in
nany cases amount to thousands of dollars a week, can be explained. This atti-
tude is borne out by the statement of LAUHA 2U?wT to the State District Attorney
in Los Angeles in 1940 when she stated:
rt We attended a housewanain^ in the noate of H5LSN
SAHAGEN and LEL7YE DOUGLAS at which there were a number offscreen
people present. I7e complimented Hiss GAHAC2K on their home and V
she said, 1 don f t know why we put so much money in it because when
revolution comes we will lose it all, and the revolution is bound
to come because conditions in tide country are so terrible it is iiw
evitable. 1 " -
£rhe initial move of the Commmlist Internationale to get
/v\n+ W\1 r\ir <a*» i n+ awinn +■ -? r\«n «1 o -i a urirt law* « f ri A • a 4 m +■ Via vwa 4- -! irA ^"4 .1 H ■
of the arts began about the year 1930* The necessity for this action had long
been recognized in the Soviet Union as a policy of the state to control the
minds of the people. 3ut it was not until 1930 that the international struc-
ture, the Communist Internationale (Comintern) was delegated to make this
| program everywhere throughout the world . It was in this year that the inter-
ft national union of revolutionary writers, which has had such tremendous influ-
l ence on writers in the United states, held a congress in ICharkov, ?uissia«3
The effects of this congress, attended by delegates from the United States,
are apparent right now in Hollywood, [Uany of the writers now /employed in_£fcfc
Hollywood motion picture industry were schooled in the orgaM'd^^
sprang from this congress, ana those writers who *vere so schooled are still
carrying on for the Conuounist Party as vigorously as ever.]
[About this same time, that is in 1930, another organiza-
tion was set up in the Soviet Union* It was called the International Union
of Revolutionary Theatre . The headquarters were in lloscow. It likewise was
the ^arent of a multitude of suo-or sanitations in the United States called
porkers 1 Theaters", "Theater Groups", "Little Theater", and others. All of
these- projects were under the firm control of the Communis t Party, jj
The president of this international union of revolution-
ary theatre ivas HZHIRICH DL^^IT, theater director in Russia. Others of
influence were:
PEARL ATTACrSYA
aiiatoli gslsbor
SERGEI 2I33ISTSIK,
I3EE! PI3CAT0R
SSRGI TTSTTAKGV
CHAM ITIA1T
JAI L3TOA
All of the above are Russians and are internationally .
known in theatrical circles as being authorities on theatre end theatre busi-
ness. The plans of this ©roup were to s<?t up in the United States schools
of the theater patterned alter those of lEYZP-EOIT and STAlilSIAVSKT, Russian
authorities on the use of the theater as a yjeapon ior revolutionary propaganda.
Such were the plans laid down' in Moscow, Russia to be sponsored by the Coramui>*
ist Party in the United States*
Shortly after this International Union of Revolutionary
Theatres was set up in Russia, there sprang up in the United States in all
the major cities a multitude of so-called "theater groups"* There were such
organizations as:
"Theater of Action**
"ARTEF"
"Theater Collective"
"Chicago Group Theater"
"New Theater Players of Hollywood"
"Negro People Theaters of the South"
"Rebel Players"
All of the above groups were under Cocmunist Party control
and followed the pattern of the "Revolutionary Theater" as above stated. There
were also set up at the same time the following:
o
"Film and Photo League*
"Workers Dance League"
These two latter organizations at their inception were
separated from the theater groups but they also were Cocmunist inspired and
controlled*
In April, 1932 the Communist leaders in New York called a
national theater conference. It was composed of delegates from all of the
aforementioned groups* At this conference there was created what was called
the LEAGUE OF YORKERS THEATER • This league brought together all groups into
one- centrally controlled organization and was known as the American section
of the International Union of Revolutionary Theatre* It published a magazine
called "The Workers' Theater" „
Tn 1934 the name of the League of Vforkers 1 Theater was
changed to the MEET THSAT^- Ig& gyg and the magazine was re-named "New Theater" •
Hie structure and Communis t control remained. It was the same set up under a
new name*
Previous to this change in names there had been very little
attention paid to the Hollywood motion picture industry but now that sound was
introduced and the talking motion picture was firmly established which was
changing the technique of the motion picture to one aore adaptable for propa-
ganda purposes, the Communist Party began an intensive campaign to penetrate
the industry*
The consolidation of all of these theater groups into one
organization with its headquarters in Mew York made it possible to direct all
activities more efficiently. This supervision of all of these group theater
activities which were in effect schools for rrriter, actors, directors, artists,
etc., many of t;hom later were employed in Hollywood was succesaful and as a
result the initial infiltration in Hollywood was mainly from this source*
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD OF
^5*
ANITA ELACK-
PHILLIP BAKBER
JCKN 3om=- .
HEN BLASE
VICTOR CUTISR
HAHKT 3LI0H
^ ALICE EVAKS-
HEN GOLDEN
ANNE HOVE
BEST HB7IN
HERBERT KLIwE
1KB NEST THEATER LEAGUE - 1935
TONX KRABSR
JCtfN HOWARD LARSON
V/ILL
HARK UARVIN
ALBERT UALXZ
LISTOH OAK,
ROBERT RUSaf
GEORGE a^jFTKU
AUGUSTUS S HTH
MDLLX DAI rHATCHER
<
NATIONAL ADVISOR! COUNCIL
STANLEY BERN3RAW
ALBERT asm
J. 0. BAILEE
IORETTO BALLET
BUCH.TALD
CHAEL BLANKFORT
3AP.EETT H. CLARK
CHERYL CRAflPORD-
H. V,'. L. DANA
WALTER ITHTCHARD EATON
RANDOLPH EDEtJHBS^
JOSEPH FHIZLIAN'^
VIRGIL GEDDES
1HCHASL GOLD
H0RD3SAI GOHEUK
A. T. HO BAN
LANGSTON HUGHES*
SUA KAZAN I'
ALFRED 1 33XL30RG
ISELYBl P. LEVY
TOXLIAK E. LEONARD
ROSE KcCLENDON
SAMUEL QRNITZ
CLIFFORD CDETS
PAUL PETERS
PAUL ROBESON
CONRAD SILER
BSNNO SCHNEIDER
GEORtS; SKLAR
LEE STRASBERG
PAUL SLTTON .
CLARA SIFTON
PHILLIP STEVENSON
LEIGH "SHIPPER '
Editorial Staff of "New Theater"
GEORGE K5DF1R1JC
EZ£ANQR FLSXKKR
VICTOR TSOLBSON
ROBERT STEBBIIiS
EDNA OCKO
BEE BLAKE
DAVID CRYSTAL
Editor
Uanaging Editor
Assistant Managing Editor
Drama
Films
Danct
European Editor
Business Manager
Associates
L. HERMAN
DOROTHY EANNIN
STEPHEN FOSTER
LEO T. KUH7JITZ
JAY LETDA
RAY LUDLOff
john liaispsace
iiari: uarvtii •
louis ijohden
norma roland
LUPJEL RUCKSTSER
ELIZABETH RUSKEY
MAT SAUNDERS
AUGUSTUS SUITR^
ROBERT STECK
JUi STERN
NORLIAN ST3V3NS —
L*)LLY DAY THATCHER
DORIS YANKAURER
o
rmile the above lists of names represent all sections of
the Unitec Spates, among them will be found some that are now explored in Holly-
wood and carrying on activities which are in tune with the Communist Party line.
They are the following:
HERBERT KLINE, Director, Communist Party member, associated
with JOHN SEHJH3CE. Now in Lfexico City making a picture.
* JOHN E3EAHD LATSON. writer, member of League of American
/Writers and a Communist Party member •
^ juBStT klAITC , writer, member of the League of American
V.riters and a Communist Party member •
AIE5TJ 3EIH, writer, member of the League of American
Writers, member of the Sew Theater League and a fellow traveller .
1HCKASL BIAMKPORT* writer, mamber of the League of Ameri-
can TZriters, and a mentoer of the Communist Party.
^AHGSTOK HUggS. writer, a member of the League of Ameri-
can Writers and a member of the Communist Party.
■ ^AMUEL OPJCTTZi writer, member of the League of American
VJriters, a member of the American Peace Mobilization and many other front or-
ganizations, and a member of the Communist Party for many years.
w^IXPPORD 0DST5 , writer, a Timber of the League of American
Writers, active in the American Peace Mobilization and a member of the Commun-
ist Party.
PAUL PSTERS % writer, a member of the League of American
Writers and a fellow traveller* *
^AJL HQBESCHg actor and singer. Very active in American
Peace Mobilization and a member of the Communist Party.
33IND SCHHEID5R. director, an ardent fellow traveller.
G5QRGE SIILAR* writer, a member of the League of American
Writers, very active in American Peace Mobilization and an active member of
the Communist Party.
\/ JAY L5TDA, director, member of the American Peace ilobiliza-
tion; at the present time directing the picture "Mission to Moscow", and an
ardent rnonber of the Communist Party.
- 102
(
')
Others now in Hollywood connected with the motion picture
industry who were affiliated with or supported the activities of the New Theater
League, are the folio rang: —
DUDLEY" NICHOIS, writer and director, member of the League
of American Writers and a fellow traveller*
✓ jriOIA BROTHERS SHORE , writer, member of the League of
African Writers, and a very active member of the Communist Party.
IIARC BUTZSTSIK , writer and composer, member of the
*fsSTSE
C0LE> writer, member of the League of American
Writers, member of the American Peace Mobilization and an active member of
the Communist Party.
y
rfiTLTXAK KErriKXWj writer, a meaber of the League of American
Writers, a member of the American Peace Mobilization, an active member of the
Communist Party, and the wife of ARTHUR KOHER.
ARTHUR KOBER j writer, member of the League of American
Writers, member of the American Peace Mobilization, a member of the Communist
Party and the husband of LILLIAN
IZSTSR KOSNIG, writer, member of the League of American
Writers and a fellow traveller.
i/ ^R3SRT BIBEHKAN. director, Los Angeles director of the
American Peace Mobilization j picketed the White House until a few cays before
HITLER attacked STALIN on June 22, 1941 J a member of the Communist Party.
,/ QHS0K WELLES s writer and director, a member of the League
of American Writers, a member of the American Peace Mobilization; active in
the HARRY BRIDGES defense committee*
✓ IgBIB THTKSTQNE, director and a fellow traveller*
' HSHHAN SHILILSIN, director, member of the American Peace
Hobilization and a member of the Conmunist Party -
JOHN CROMffiT.L» director, a fellow traveller.
BTTiTTAM DitTfflTK, director, and a member of the Communist
Party ' -fieNBDSfflAt
- 103 -
*
vx ^ftANK TUTTI3S. director, a member of the League of American
7iv iters, a member of the American Peace Mobilization, and a meojber of the Com-
munist Party.
KEfG VTDQRj director, fellow traveller who follows the
Communist Party line ardently*
J ORIS director, follower of the Communist Party
line*
\J PARS IOKSNTZ* director, a follower of the Communist Party
line*
*^ J. BKTAHD 3KQIIB5RG, actor, a member of the American Peace
Mobilization and an ardent maaber of the Communist Party*
JOHN GARFTErrn - actor, a fellow traveller and an ardent
follower of ttie Communist Party fine.
MAURICS CARNQVSKY , actor, a fellow traveller and a follower
of the Communist Party line.
HQLuU; 3QHKEK , actor; follov/er of the Comtaunist Party line.
FRANCES FAEUER, actress, fellow traveller.
GALE SQITOilKGAAED. actress, member of the American Peace
Mobilization and a manber of the Communist Party.
JOHN HEXTiKY. writer, member of the League of American
Writers, a teacher in the writers school, and a follov/er of the Communist
Party line.
IHKIK SHAW j writer, member of the League of American
Writers, sponsor of Contemporary Theater, and a follower of the Communist
Fartv line.
- w — ~
FREDERIC MARCH, actor; very active in the Hooney defense
committee; a member of the Communist Party..
FLORENCE ELDREDGS, actress, member of the Hollywood Anti-
Nazi League and a member of the Communist Party*
DONAIfl OCPSN STEffART, writer, member o^/^gSjS^o?*
American Yfriters and former president of that organizationVyi%enjber of the
Hollywood Anti-Nazi League; very active member of the American Peace Mobili-
zation, and a member of the Communist Party*
- 104 -
o
/' j£l3S CAGMSi » actor; a aember of the American Peace Llobili—
nation, and a felljbw traveller who follows the Cooaunist Party Hoe.
• faOlVZL 3TA1TGR , actor; menber of the Hollywood Anti-Ifezi
League, a member of the League for Peace and Democracy, and a member of the
Communist Party,
in Mexico City.
ART a follower of the Comuunist Party line; now
JSAH MUIR * actress; member of the Hollywood Anti-IJazi
League, and follower of the COiiimunist Party line*
RQU53N UIZlQVZJJdl * director; member of the Kolljwod Anti*
I.'azi League and other fronts and a fellow traveller.
The above described activity of the Communist Party operat-
ing through the i-ew Theater League and its offshoots is by no aeans the extent
of its activity in the Kollywooc cultural section. It will be seen in reports
on separate or 0 anizations heretofore aace and Hereinafter 0 iven, that [the pei>-
sons mentioned in connection with the i?ew Theater League appear in each and
every one of the numerous front organizations and Communist controlled labor
unions and groups sponsored by the cultural groi-.ps and labor unions. Instead
of being a group here and a O roup there operating separately, it is an inter-
locicing system jwith tentacles in every organization, political, cultural,
front, or labor unions, all activities of which stem from the spearhead, the
Communist Party.
The method of operation, the tactics for infiltration,
and the general procedure as described abore are basically the same in all of
the work of the Communist Party, whether Jit be in Hollywood, labor unions,
£$pnt organizations, local, state or national government, or social groups.
The" general line is laid down in Moscow, the national groups carry it out
through the network where it eventually takes effect in every section of the
world. The changes in the party line are reflected in the United States
nationally and locally with an incredible efficiency.
of the Kollywod Anti-IIazi League, the program of which was one of opposition
to Nazi ism j and support of the democratic processes, and the almost immediate
substitution of the Hollywood League for Democratic Action, the program of which
was just the reverse* This change from one organization to another was deter- K
mined by the foreign policy of the Soviet Union which changed with the consume \*
nation of the STALE I-HITL-S pact, august 23, 1939. It will «lsrf be noted from
separate reports hereinafter that the same officials of the £oliywood Anti-Nazi
League were the same as they were for the Hollywood League for Democratic*
tion.
- 105 -
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